It's no secret Milton Public Library has a treasure trove of resources available.
Whether it is items under the Library of Things umbrella, archival research or various youth programs, the local institution offers far more than just books.
But jars of honey? Yup, that too.
On the grounds of the Beaty branch are a series of beehives, honey from which is harvested by Hamilton-based retailer Humble Bee.
The business was hatched by the mind of Luc Peters, king bee and founder of Humble Bee. The environmentally conscious entrepreneur was disturbed by the bee population collapse. Little by little he made inroads in the industry, learning how to keep bees and harvest their honey.
In 2013, Humble Bees was born.
“As I started in the industry and grew it from there and really saw that there wasn't a whole lot of real honey on the shelves,” Peters recalled. “It's very easy to provide the real product and I wanted to make it accessible to people.”
“Partnering with Humble Bee aligns with our mission to inspire learning, foster community, and promote sustainability. Their expertise allows us to offer hands-on STEAM programs for all ages, while the beehives enhance our Medicine Learning Garden. Selling Beaty honey at our branches connects patrons to local sustainability efforts and showcases the impact of urban beekeeping,” explained Chris Dorscht, Director of Customer experience at the library.
That ease of access was extended to the local library sometime in 2020. The library approached Peters with some ideas and one of the first cross-pollinations between them involved a honey-related workshop.
Habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use are an issue for honey-related businesses like Humble Bee.
“You can’t rely on the calendar anymore. The climate is changing, plants are changing,” Peters said in explaining how climate change has affected his business. But despite this, the year’s harvest, Peters says, was good. All of the branches of the library network have the 2024 extractions on sale.
The business is a one-stop shop for all things related to apiaries. Along with different types of honey, they sell bees wax products, honey pots, beekeeper tools and suits, among other things.
A jar of honey costs $10 at the library, but they are selling them for $6 for the month of October.
More information about this relationship can be found on Humble Bee’s and the library’s websites.