A buzz about honey
With a retiring workforce on the cards, beekeeping is a career in rapid decline, according to Kim Phillips, owner of the House of Honey and committee member behind Honey Month, a celebration throughout May to honour nature's sweet and healing nectar.
"One of the driving forces behind Honey Month is to develop an interest in beekeeping in the younger generation, as well as educating the public to support West Australian honey and its apiarists," she said. "People might not realise that bees are under threat by disease, climate change and dwindling forest resources so it's important they understand how important they are to our food diversity."
Now in its third year, the WA Honey Festival is the main attraction of Honey Month. The May 4 event is hosted at the House of Honey on 867 Great Northern Highway, Herne Hill, from 10am to 4pm.
Entry is free and the day will include beekeeping demonstrations, guest speakers, as well as plenty of activities for children and live jazz.
New to the festival is a partnership with the Slow Food Group, which will be presenting a Long-table Autumn Honey Brunch on Sunday, May 18.
Expect a banquet of Patritti sparkling wine and fresh orange juice, hand-cut honeycomb crostini, wood-fired organic bread, granola and local goat's milk yoghurt, the obligatory eggs, bacon and sauteed mushrooms, fresh pancakes and honey ice-cream and stewed autumn fruits.
The brunch is from 9.30am at Baskerville Hall. Tickets are $40 for Slow Food Group members and $45 for non-members, with bookings essential from the House of Honey on 9296 3635.
