>>> FROM THE BEST IN FOOD TO MUSICAL ARTS AND RECREATION,
THERE'S A LOT VISITORS LOVE ABOUT ASHEVILLE.
AND THE BEES LIKE IT TOO.
IN FACT, ASHEVILLE WAS THE FIRST CITY TO BE PROCLAIMED A BEE CITY
USA, SO I DECIDED TO GO ON A LITTLE HONEY EXPEDITION TO
SAMPLE THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS FOR TWO LOCAL
BUSINESSES, THE ASHEVILLE BEE CHARMER AND BEE AND BRAMBLE FINE
MEAD IN FAIRVIEW.
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, IS THE FIRST CERTIFIED BEE CITY USA
COMMITTED TO CREATING FRIENDLY, LIVING, AND WORKING SPACES FOR
BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES, AND BEES.
THE MOVEMENT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2012 BY THE BUNCOMBE COUNTY
BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION BECAUSE OF NATIONAL CONCERN OVER RAPID
DECLINE IN BEE COLONIES.
HONEY PRODUCTION IS ESPECIALLY ESSENTIAL TO BEE ENTHUSIASTS
LIKE IVAR SCHLOZ, WHO USES THIS NATURAL SUGAR TO MAKE HONEY WINE
CALLED MEAD.
HE INVITED ME TO CHECK OUT HIS HIVES AND GET TO KNOW HIS
SWEETIE PIES.
>> WATCH OUT, HONEY.
SWEETIE PIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, BEES.
>> REALLY, FOR ME, THE BEEKEEPING ASPECT IS -- IS
CONNECTING WITH ANOTHER CREATURE AND, IN FACT, A VERY FASCINATING
CREATURE.
IT'S ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF SPRING HERE, SO THE NECTAR FLOWS ARE
TYPICALLY STARTING AT THIS TIME.
THE TREE HONEYS ARE REALLY BEING STORED AND SAVED UP, AND THE
NECTAR'S BEING COLLECTED.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS CAPPED HONEY HERE.
SO THIS IS NECTAR THAT HAS BEEN DEHYDRATED.
THE JOB OF THE SMALLER BEES IS TO DEHYDRATE THE NECTAR UNTIL
IT'S AT A RIGHT MOISTURE, AND THEN THEY'LL GO OVER AND CAP IT
WITH WAX.
>> IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE I FELL IN LOVE WITH BEES TOO.
>> AND, ACTUALLY, THESE GUYS ARE HAVING A LITTLE SNACK.
>> THEY'RE CUTE.
NEXT STOP, THE ASHEVILLE BEE CHARMER.
NOW THAT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HONEY-MAKING PROCESS,
I WANTED TO TAKE A TASTE OF HONEY AND CHECK OUT A LOT MORE.
YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT IN HERE.
>> ON PAGE 87 FROM THE BOOK "FRIED GREEN TOMATOES" THAT I'VE
BEEN CARRYING AROUND FOREVER, UH, RUTH SAYS TO IDGIE
THREADGOODE, "YOU ARE JUST NOTHING BUT AN OLD BEE CHARMER,"
AND IT STUCK WITH US.
AND IN OUR STORE, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF HONEY.
WE HAVE LOCALLY MADE CANDLES, A LOT OF LOCAL BODY CARE MADE WITH
HONEY OR BEESWAX.
WE HAVE PILLOWS AND T-SHIRTS.
WE HAVE SOME JEWELRIES, HONEY DIPPERS.
WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL ART FROM JULIA FOSSON AND LORI THERIOLT,
BOTH LOCAL PEOPLE THAT MAKE SOME BEAUTIFUL ENCAUSTIC ART FOR US.
WE HAVE OUR BEE THEME, AND WE TRY AND REALLY STICK WITH THE
BEE THEME OR THE HEXAGON PATTERN.
BUT ALL IN ALL, WE REALLY WANT TO GET THE ISSUE OF THE PLIGHT
OF THE BEE OUT TO PEOPLE.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON THAT WE'RE DOING THIS.
WE HAVE A REALLY BIG ISSUE WITH COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER.
WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 40% EVERY YEAR, AND THAT'S EVEN WITH
MASTER BEEKEEPERS.
I WISH EVERYBODY HAD A HIVE IN THE BACKYARD, KIDDING ASIDE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
>> SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY REALLY FANTASTIC AT THE
ASHEVILLE BEE CHARMER IS THEIR HONEY TASTING BAR.
>> GOT A LITTLE PIECE OF THE WORLD HERE.
EVERYTHING FROM LOCAL IN AND AROUND ASHEVILLE, ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, FRANCE, ITALY, SPAIN, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, INFUSED, A
LITTLE BIT OF WHISKEY.
>> THIS IS HOW IT STARTS, AND THIS IS HOW IT GOES, AND GOES,
TASTE AFTER DELICIOUS TASTE OF HONEYS SWEET AND SMOOTH, THICK
AND NUTTY, EVEN SOME HOT AND SPICY.
FOR CERTAIN AT THE BEE CHARMER, YOU'LL FIND LOTS OF THINGS BEE
AND HONEY, BUT NOT AS YET HONEY WINE.
SO TO SAMPLE SOME MEAD, WE HEADED BACK TO FAIRVIEW.
>> THE BUSINESS IS LOOKING GLASS CREAMERY, AND WE'RE HERE IN
BEAUTIFUL FAIRVIEW JUST OUTSIDE OF ASHEVILLE, AND WE HAVE A
GREAT DESTINATION HERE WHERE YOU CAN COME AND HAVE A CHEESE
PLATE, ENJOY SOME WINE, AND WE SERVE LOCAL BEE & BRAMBLE WINE,
WHICH IS MADE JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM HERE, SO IT'S GREAT TO
HAVE THAT.
WE'RE HOSTING A TASTING HERE TODAY OF THAT TOO.
>> WHY ARE WE SAMPLING MEAD AT A CHEESE SHOP?
>> WELL, I THINK MEADS AND CHEESES ARE A -- ARE A NATURAL
FIT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AS WITH CHEESES, YOU HAVE A RANGE FROM MILD TO SHARP, AND
THE SAME THING WITH OUR RANGE OF MEADS.
>> BEE & BRAMBLE'S FINE MEADS ECHO THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS
VISITED BY THE BEES WHO PROVIDED ITS SOURCE HONEY.
HE OFFERS SEVEN BLENDS, INCLUDING A REFRESHINGLY TART
BLACKBERRY BUZZ AND HIS CLEAN AND SUBTLE TRADITIONAL SIMPLY
MADE WITH HONEY, YEAST, AND WATER.
IN ASHEVILLE, YOU'LL DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO LOVE HONEY AND THE
FUZZY LITTLE FEMALES WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.