Did you know that honeybees must visit 2,000,000 flowers to make only a single pound of delicious honey? It takes 150 bees to make one teaspoon of this golden nectar!

I recently visited Pete and Paul Blake of Blake’s Orchards and Cider Mill in Armada. They operate three farms equaling 700 acres, and honeybees are some of their hardest workers!

I was totally fascinated by the bees and the beautiful, colorful hives. Pete and Paul told me that every year they hire beekeepers to set up their beehives on and around their orchards to pollinate all of their fruit trees, berry bushes and veggies.

The Blakes must purchase new bees every year. Although the bee should live from year to year, they have tragically been dying from Colony Collapse Disorder. Scientists aren’t exactly clear on what’s going on with the collapse — whether it’s the mites, radio waves, cell towers, pesticides or simply a natural cycle. Do a search to learn more about this strange, mysterious phenomenon and the decline of our bees.

We’re looking for local beekeepers to get in touch with us, as we’d love to carry and sell your honey at our Achatz pie shops.