video : Obsessives
Obsessives: The Bee Whisperer
By Meredith Arthur, Eric Slatkin, and Blake Smith
Sonoma County beekeeper Serge Labesque treats his bees with respect, though that’s probably not all that’s needed to save the world’s swarms from Colony Collapse Disorder. The sticky stuff’s far-reaching power includes healing burns and adorning a fine panna cotta recipe.
This is a regular series called Obsessives, in which CHOW explores the worlds of singularly focused food-industry figures. These are the people with the dirty hands, answering detailed questions about the work they do.
Thanks for such a great piece -- gorgeous video and very informative. I felt so serene after watching and listening to Serge, and of course, I wanted some honey.
I've been a fan of bees since childhood and this makes me want a hive of my own more than before - especially if city dwellers can do it like Serge says! But I'm allergic to bees wax, weirdly enough, and hubby isn't a fan...>sigh<
After watching this video it makes me want to start my own beehive. Unfortunately my neighboors would probably have a fit.
I agree - this is an informative, beautifully done video series. I have always loved honey, and now am inspired to start raising bees. Thank you!
I have used and loved honey for as long as I can remember. It's my sweetener of choice for my daily coffee, used in hot tea with lemon for a sore throat or cold, and delicious spread on warm toast as well as in fruit smoothies, morning cereals or creamy oatmeals. My mom taught me not to be afraid of bees as a child and helped me appreciate and respect bees for the amazing gifts and service they bring to the world with their honey and pollination of plants. To this day, whenever I'm swimming in an outdoor pool and I see a bee that's fallen in and struggling to survive -- I'll find a leaf or a twig or my goggles to scoop it out of the water and save it. They've never turned on me or tried to sting me -- they just dry themselves off and fly away. Go forth, live another day, and make more wondeful honey!!!