One of the least known but most exciting festivals of the year falls on February 2. Known by a host of other names around the world, the best we in the USA can do is call it “Groundhog Day.” And we don’t really celebrate the festival at all—we read some news feed to see whether a faraway groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow or not and we get told what that means, and that’s the end of that.
But if instead on February 2 you had joined the dozen or so folks gathered on ATG Farm to celebrate what is also known as Candlemas Day, you would have seen a completely different side of things. For us on the farm, this is the yearly festival of the Honeybee (and by extension all pollinators). When we came together on that Wednesday it was to do more than passively observe nature in the middle of winter; it was to kindle a flame in our hearts that we can tend and expect to grow bright and big as the season progresses. And it all starts with the Honeybee.
Now is the time when the honeybee appears to be hibernating through the coldest part of winter. But appearances can be deceptive. What is really happening is that the queen bees deep in their clustered hives are starting to lay eggs again after a winter’s pause. This new brood, nursed by aging bees who have lived far into old age, will emerge in 3-4 weeks as the new hope of the hive, the new life for the coming growing season. The time between now and the dandelion bloom (which we celebrate on the farm with the Dandelion Festival, April 23) will be critical to the bees’ survival. It all depends on healthy brood and helpful weather.
We make sure we are preparing well by cleaning hives and equipment and planning the pollinator forage and herb gardens which are essential for the health of bees. We also make sure that our gifts from the bees are being well cared for. Every year we receive the gift of wax from the honeybee as we cycle it out of the oldest hives to avoid accumulating harmful poisons there. With that wax we make candles. This year we took the opportunity to invite neighboring beekeepers so we might join together in caring for the bees and pollinators that fly out over Zionville and surrounding communities.
On candle making day adults and children gathered to dip taper candles and pour votive candles and eat some treats and sip hot tea. Children of all ages made crowns to honor the Queen Bee; others assembled collages of flower images cut from seed catalogs. It was a true festival centered around the Light. For the sun causes the bees’ flowers to grow, it forces the nectar to form in the flowers’ chalices and pollen to form on the anthers and honey to thicken in the comb; it lies dormant within a candle until it is kindled into flame, and what precious honey we receive from the Bee warms like sweet sunlight on the tongue.
Stay alert for notices for the Dandelion Festival on April 23. This is your chance to enjoy a festival at ATG and perhaps deepen your understanding of some of the many ways we work with Nature to co-create a wholesome environment within which to grow food for you, our neighbors and friends.