Posts Tagged: mead

Celebrating World Bee Day with the California Master Beekeeper Program

It's World Bee Day!  How did that come about? One word: Slovenia. The Republic of Slovenia, rich in beekeeping history, asked the United Nations to proclaim an annual World Bee Day, and following a three-year international effort, the United...

A honey bee heading for the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee heading for the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Cooperative Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño founded and directs the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Cooperative Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño founded and directs the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wendy Mather, program manager of the California Master Beekeeper Program, opens a hive at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wendy Mather, program manager of the California Master Beekeeper Program, opens a hive at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Nature Day Celebration: Pride of Madeira, Pride of The Hive

If you've recently visited the pollinator gardens at The Hive, a family business owned by Z Specialty Food, 1221 Harter Way, Woodland, you've seen the spectacular Pride of Madeira, Echium candicans. Now another "pride" awaits. Z Specialty...

"Queen Bee" Amina Harris of Z Specialty Food is also the executive director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Queen Bee" Amina Harris of Z Specialty Food is also the executive director of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Josh Zeldner, nectar director at Z Specialty Food, stands by the bee-themed conference table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Josh Zeldner, nectar director at Z Specialty Food, stands by the bee-themed conference table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Liz Luu, formerly of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center, serves as the marketing manager and the tasting room manager. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Liz Luu, formerly of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center, serves as the marketing manager and the tasting room manager. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wide-angle of The Hive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A wide-angle of The Hive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This honey bee appears to be giving a "high five" of approval as it forages on the Pride of Madeira. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This honey bee appears to be giving a "high five" of approval as it forages on the Pride of Madeira. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Taste of Honey--and a Sip of Mead!

You may associate “tasting room” with wine in the Napa Valley, or olive oil in Fairfield, but now there's a tasting room in Woodland to sample honey and mead (honey wine).  That's Z Specialty Food's newly constructed The HIVE, located...

The newly constructed HIVE, owned by Z Specialty Food, Woodland. (Photo by Elizabeth Luu)

The newly constructed HIVE, owned by Z Specialty Food, Woodland. (Photo by Elizabeth Luu)

Napa Valley has its wine tasting rooms, but Northern California now as a honey and mead (honey wine) tasting room at The HIVE, Woodland. (Photo by Elizabeth Luu)

Napa Valley has its wine tasting rooms, but Northern California now as a honey and mead (honey wine) tasting room at The HIVE, Woodland. (Photo by Elizabeth Luu)

Amina Harris, the self-described "Queen Bee" of her family-owned Z Specialty Food, is photographed in the tasting room of The HIVE.

Amina Harris, the self-described "Queen Bee" of her family-owned Z Specialty Food, is photographed in the tasting room of The HIVE.

Mead Makers: Groundbreakers, Risk-Takers, and Trendsetters

They're described as "groundbreakers" and "risk-takers" and "trendsetters." They're known for their creativity. What they do, however, does not involve correcting social injustices, breaking ceilings in workplaces or pushing the latest fashions, as the...

Like to learn secrets of making mead from award-winning mead makers? The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center will host a two-day course May 21-22 on "Mead: Getting Creative." (Image courtesy of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center)

Like to learn secrets of making mead from award-winning mead makers? The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center will host a two-day course May 21-22 on "Mead: Getting Creative." (Image courtesy of the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center)

Meet Mead Maker and Master Beekeeper Mark Carlson on May 1

Enthusiasm is building and buzzing for the California Master Beekeeper Program's online course, "An Introduction to Mead 2021," set from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 1.   Master Beekeeper Mark Carlson of the Bay Area will lead the...

Master Beekeeper Mark Carlson of San Francisco will present an online course, hosted by the California Master Beekeeper Program, on "An Introduction to Mead 2021." (Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson)

Master Beekeeper Mark Carlson of San Francisco will present an online course, hosted by the California Master Beekeeper Program, on "An Introduction to Mead 2021." (Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson)

Make mine mead! Mead is "the fastest growing alcoholic beverage category in the United States," according to the American Mead Makers Association. (Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson)

Make mine mead! Mead is "the fastest growing alcoholic beverage category in the United States," according to the American Mead Makers Association. (Photo courtesy of Mark Carlson)

Read more