Bees, Honey & Mead for Life
Donation protected
We had a dream of a normal, peaceful life. It would be nice to have more than we needed but we never really expected what we got.
My name is Jennifer and people call me Jen. I came to Cape Breton in 2012 after a 3 year court case where I was the victim of an assault and I wanted as far away as possible. I came to be with my first love, whom I have known since I was 19 years old and where I knew I would be safe. I wanted some peace and thought Cape Breton was where I might find it.
R. Micheal has been an established beekeeper in Cape Breton at our Scotch Lake Farm since 2002 . He also made mead from his honey during the winter months while the honeybees cluster.
He taught me to be a beekeeper. I am truly afraid in the fall when there are millions of bees, but I do it.
With my web design skills, we turned his then winter winery into Midgard Meadery , Nova Scotia's only licensed Meadery at the time.
My design and marketing skills with his expertise in beekeeping and mead making made this little cottage winery look a lot bigger than it ever was and a plan to grow was our dream; our goal.
We suffered some losses in 2014 when Varroa mite hit our island but we didn't let that get us down. We rebuilt, buying new nucleous colonies and using our proven herbal methods of fighting the mite. We knew we'd be in a good position coming out of 2016. So we thought.
Things got really hard, almost impossible, when our strongest site, off-site from the main farm, was sabotaged. Someone sprayed our strongest 12 hives with insecticide in 2016. They sprayed right inside the hives so that the brood was dying as it hatched. This was to be our comeback year and that person just took it all away. We had insurance but only in the event that something happened to people at the out-yard and it didn't help with this kind of loss. Even though we believe we know who, there is no proof and re-coup of our loss is impossible.
We had borrowed to replace bees in 2014 when we were still trying to build the business and now to start over again, just when we were supposed to be getting off the ground.
New bees and new equipment, enough to split and build more to cover losses both malicious and natural. We knew it would be hard to come back from this but we were going to try. We are close but there is more work to do and more money is needed than Micheal is comfortable borrowing. We need your help.
This is where I am asking for your help. Micheal's choice was to close the Meadery because he would never ask for help. He has given me the chance to come up with the money for all the licensing ($500.00 & $200.00) and registrations ($100.00 & $70.00). Other funds will be used for replacing older filter equipment and purchasing honey to make mead.
The bee loss has left us with about half the honey needed for honey sales let alone mead making. This was true in 2016 and 2017 even though we did make some. Purchasing honey is now an option thanks to the changes in the laws governing our license. Buying chemical free is a bit more tricky.
When I first started mentioning our situation, our customers and friends did not realize the work that goes into beekeeping and that it took so long for the bees to get strong and healthy. They didn't realise the connection between our bee loss and the Meadery. They didn't consider that with no chemicals, it takes a minimum of one year to make a fruit mead such as a cyzer or melomel.
So many of you have offered help for us to stay open. I really hope you mean it because you are why I am trying this. You are important to us and we owe it to you to try.
We are the only option for those with chemical intolerances to enjoy an alcohol beverage. We have clients all over Canada that have enjoyed our mead and the fact that we do not use chemcials in beekeeping, mead making or in any farm product, is what makes us special.
We are farmers, we aren't rich and yes, we are a small cottage winery; a mom and pop shop that just want a purposeful life that brings you quality options for your food and possibly, we may be able to employ others. We sell honey because we are beekeepers first. We sell eggs from chickens I've rescued from slaughter along with any extra fruits or vegetables grown and hand made items that I craft.
We certainly welcome people to the farm for tours and tastings, as humble as it is. We just ask for a call to set up a day and time. We even allow people to come picnic in our Mead Glen for free or set up a tent to have a camp out at the fire pit overnight for a small fee. The fee is just for our time and energy to ensure you have a clean area, spring water and some wood for the fire.
We will also rent the space for events as the farm does have some spectacular views and paths to walk.
Our dream was to grow into something for Cape Breton but right now, I would just like to keep the chance to have a life in Cape Breton.
A small boost would go a long way. We would like to offer gifts for all donations however shipping costs make that hard. All names will be added to our plaque that will hang in our farm gate store, once finished for any size donation or any help given. All donors will be invited to celebrate with us in the future but for now our true gratitude for the hope you bring will have to do.
As of Feb 26, 2018, incentives have changed to be more specific, so as not to have to email or track a person for their choice and to cover costs. Those who donated previously will still have their chosen incentive.
My name is Jennifer and people call me Jen. I came to Cape Breton in 2012 after a 3 year court case where I was the victim of an assault and I wanted as far away as possible. I came to be with my first love, whom I have known since I was 19 years old and where I knew I would be safe. I wanted some peace and thought Cape Breton was where I might find it.
R. Micheal has been an established beekeeper in Cape Breton at our Scotch Lake Farm since 2002 . He also made mead from his honey during the winter months while the honeybees cluster.
He taught me to be a beekeeper. I am truly afraid in the fall when there are millions of bees, but I do it.
With my web design skills, we turned his then winter winery into Midgard Meadery , Nova Scotia's only licensed Meadery at the time.
My design and marketing skills with his expertise in beekeeping and mead making made this little cottage winery look a lot bigger than it ever was and a plan to grow was our dream; our goal.
We suffered some losses in 2014 when Varroa mite hit our island but we didn't let that get us down. We rebuilt, buying new nucleous colonies and using our proven herbal methods of fighting the mite. We knew we'd be in a good position coming out of 2016. So we thought.
Things got really hard, almost impossible, when our strongest site, off-site from the main farm, was sabotaged. Someone sprayed our strongest 12 hives with insecticide in 2016. They sprayed right inside the hives so that the brood was dying as it hatched. This was to be our comeback year and that person just took it all away. We had insurance but only in the event that something happened to people at the out-yard and it didn't help with this kind of loss. Even though we believe we know who, there is no proof and re-coup of our loss is impossible.
We had borrowed to replace bees in 2014 when we were still trying to build the business and now to start over again, just when we were supposed to be getting off the ground.
New bees and new equipment, enough to split and build more to cover losses both malicious and natural. We knew it would be hard to come back from this but we were going to try. We are close but there is more work to do and more money is needed than Micheal is comfortable borrowing. We need your help.
This is where I am asking for your help. Micheal's choice was to close the Meadery because he would never ask for help. He has given me the chance to come up with the money for all the licensing ($500.00 & $200.00) and registrations ($100.00 & $70.00). Other funds will be used for replacing older filter equipment and purchasing honey to make mead.
The bee loss has left us with about half the honey needed for honey sales let alone mead making. This was true in 2016 and 2017 even though we did make some. Purchasing honey is now an option thanks to the changes in the laws governing our license. Buying chemical free is a bit more tricky.
When I first started mentioning our situation, our customers and friends did not realize the work that goes into beekeeping and that it took so long for the bees to get strong and healthy. They didn't realise the connection between our bee loss and the Meadery. They didn't consider that with no chemicals, it takes a minimum of one year to make a fruit mead such as a cyzer or melomel.
So many of you have offered help for us to stay open. I really hope you mean it because you are why I am trying this. You are important to us and we owe it to you to try.
We are the only option for those with chemical intolerances to enjoy an alcohol beverage. We have clients all over Canada that have enjoyed our mead and the fact that we do not use chemcials in beekeeping, mead making or in any farm product, is what makes us special.
We are farmers, we aren't rich and yes, we are a small cottage winery; a mom and pop shop that just want a purposeful life that brings you quality options for your food and possibly, we may be able to employ others. We sell honey because we are beekeepers first. We sell eggs from chickens I've rescued from slaughter along with any extra fruits or vegetables grown and hand made items that I craft.
We certainly welcome people to the farm for tours and tastings, as humble as it is. We just ask for a call to set up a day and time. We even allow people to come picnic in our Mead Glen for free or set up a tent to have a camp out at the fire pit overnight for a small fee. The fee is just for our time and energy to ensure you have a clean area, spring water and some wood for the fire.
We will also rent the space for events as the farm does have some spectacular views and paths to walk.
Our dream was to grow into something for Cape Breton but right now, I would just like to keep the chance to have a life in Cape Breton.
A small boost would go a long way. We would like to offer gifts for all donations however shipping costs make that hard. All names will be added to our plaque that will hang in our farm gate store, once finished for any size donation or any help given. All donors will be invited to celebrate with us in the future but for now our true gratitude for the hope you bring will have to do.
As of Feb 26, 2018, incentives have changed to be more specific, so as not to have to email or track a person for their choice and to cover costs. Those who donated previously will still have their chosen incentive.
Organizer
J.J. Holtom
Organizer
Scotch Lake, NS
