The Bee Farmer and the Chef with Hamish Ta-me

Sunday 8th October

This is an experience which is very close to our hearts here at Moonacres.

Peering into the life of a bee and learning why it is such a remarkable little creature whose tiny footprint and purpose is so impactful to this planet; in fact, we cannot live without them. 

With Hamish Ta-me from Bowral Beekeeping, we will harvest some honey with you, offer a variety of honey to taste and share the experience of extracting it from the frame. It's a journey of discovery, an invitation to connect with the heartbeat of nature, revealing the honeycomb's intricate architecture, a testament to the bees' meticulous craftsmanship. Hamish will explain the delicate art of harvesting honey, reminding us that every drop is a labor of love from the hive. 

Hamish will share the incredible and fascinating story of bees and honey and we know he will inspire you to see and notice bees, and we hope to respond in ways that you can help these little creatures do their job in your backyards. You may even want to have a hive at your place and Hamish can get you started to care for bees to create produce that comes from sustainable beehives.

Our chef will have you creating honey infused treats inspired by the season of Spring, Christmas and the holidays ready to package up for gifts for friends and family. 

Through each creation, a profound message emerges; honey isn't just an ingredient; it's a connection to our land, our communities, and our regions. It's a reminder that the simple act of savoring the sweetness of nature can lead to a deeper understanding of our role in preserving it.

This class is one of our most important educational days. 

Our lives – and the world as a whole – would be a much different place if bees didn’t exist. Bees are responsible for pollinating about one-sixth of the flowering plant species worldwide and approximately 400 different agricultural types of plant. Bees help produce 1/3 of our food supply, they provide ½ of the world’s fibers, oils, and other raw materials, help create many medicines, provide food for wildlife and help prevent soil erosion. There is no way to overstate the importance of bees.

Bees are one of the world’s most important pollinators for food crops. Out of every three bites we consume relies on pollination and yet bee populations continue to decline due to the rampant use of pesticides and other environmental factors.

Nearly 90% of flowering plant species on the planet require pollinators to aid in reproduction. This not only provides a food system for wildlife, but it also creates shelter for animals. The honeybee is responsible for nearly a third of crop pollination. But these hardworking insects produce more than that! They have six hive products — pollen, honey, beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and venom. These are all collected and used for nutritional and medical purposes by humans. 

The class is from 10:00am - 3:00pm and Hamish, Stephen and the team at Moonacres school look forward to seeing you soon.