By Shelly Khushal
It’s not often that you get to say this, but I had a lovely afternoon recently with a beekeeper and his wife.
Gregg and Michelle Scott have owned and operated Circling Hawk Honey Farm & Ridge Meadery since 2010 and are proud to be called beekeepers.
Their farm has 100 hives. Each hive has between eighty and one-hundred thousand bees and will produce between 75-200 pounds of honey per year, depending on the season, the weather, the health of bees and the age of the equipment.
When I asked Gregg what inspired him to get into this work, the answer pulled at my heartstrings – a classic tale of making lemonaid when handed lemons.
Nearly a decade ago, someone approached Gregg to store 30 beehives on his property. After thinking it over and discussing it with his wife, he agreed. He even purchased two hives himself, relying on the man who had approached him to show him the ropes.
Well, the gentlemen backed out last minute, leaving Gregg with an idea and, of course, two hives. After taking a beekeeper’s course, Gregg decided to start his own honey farm.
Gregg’s favorite part of beekeeping?
“Preparing boxes of bees for other beekeepers,” he said. “It’s gratifying because this is helping other to expland the managed pollinator population.”
Did you know?
- Bees have an built-in memory to distinguish their own hives from their neighbours?
- Bees are fed a certain diet which produces a specific scent – bees know which scent belongs to which colony?
Circling Hawk Honey Farm & Ridge Meadery offers bee tours, farm tours, and sells honey, fruit wine and cheesecake.
Events: Every Saturday, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., until the end of summer, the farm will host Mead Tasting Events, featuring local art vendors, offer table service for mead and cheesecake, and showcase live bands on the Ridge Meadery stage. There is no cover charge. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket.
Looking for a summer job? Circling Hawk is looking for students (ages 16-30) to assist with some basic farming, picking berries, managing the Bee yard and more.
Circling Hawk Honey Farm & Ridge Meadery
13433 Leslie St, Richmond Hill
Open 7 days a week
https://www.circlinghawkfarm.com/
Shelly Khushal is a busy mother of two and an active member of the York Region community, always keeping abreast of the social scene, latest trends and products; highlighting fun events in and around York Region.
Main photo: Bumble bees and honey bees are busy at work gathering nectar. (Wayne Doyle photo)
Photo row, from left: Beekeeper Gregg Scott with his mother Diana, who manages the sweet shop; Scott shows off the inside of a beehive; the final reward; bees busy at work in the hive.
