Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
Throughout the centuries, across cultures, and embedded into our myths, legends and fairy tales runs a common thread: the wisdom of bees.
Our ancestors revered the position of bees in society, not only do they provide honey – a veritable elixir from the Gods, a healing salve and a sweet delight, but they are also the pollinators that ensure fruitful harvests.
The Egyptians believed that bees grew from the tears of the Sun god Ra, and the Merovingian kings decorated their royal robes with the bee emblem to symbolize immortality and resurrection. In the folklore of many cultures, bees were considered the conduit between the material world and the spiritual world, which explains the custom of ’telling the bees’ important news.
Bees are such an integral part of our history, culture, and indeed – survival, that it is no wonder so many people are worried about their survival.
In an effort to help protect the bees, people around the globe are coming together to protect the bees from poisonous pesticides by maintaining pesticide free corridors.
In Scotland, England, Denmark, France and the U.S., bee corridors are being planted to provide a solution to the current problem of the disappearing bee population – 30% in the last five years and California’s honey production fell by nearly half in just six years – and here in the Okanagan we are beginning to build our own bee corridors to provide safe feeding grounds for the bees.
Border Free Bees, a collaborate eco-arts initiative between UBC and Emily Carr, have begun building bee corridors in Kelowna, and eventually they would like to see the bee corridor connected throughout B.C. and beyond.
The solution is simple, and even if you are not a gardener, providing a bee friendly garden is as easy as letting the dandelions grow – literally. Dandelions were first brought to North America by the pilgrims. This prolific weed produced the first spring greens and provided the bees with an abundant source of pollen. And if Albert Einstein’s prediction that “Mankind will not survive the honeybees disappearance for more than five years.” perhaps it’s time to stop worrying and learn to love the weed.
The bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables that we use in the Watermark restaurant are dependent on the bees that pollinate the orchards, vineyards, and fields of the Okanagan valley.
At Watermark, we are dedicated to helping preserve a healthy environment for our guests in every area of our resort, from the bedrooms to the boardroom. And nowhere is this more apparent than in the kitchen. Under the creative direction of our Head Chef, Adair Scott, the finest and freshest of local produce is sourced to provide a delectable dining experience for our guests.
