Sweet Summer Solstice Potluck at the Chicago Honey Co-op this Friday

June 18, 12:46 PMChicago Dining ExaminerEmily Szopa

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Photo courtesy of Mateusz Atroszko

The role of honeybees in modern agriculture is fascinating. These fuzzy, dancing, social foragers are responsible for pollinating $15 billion worth of US crops annually, with 90-100% of certain crops, mostly nuts and fruits, relying exclusively upon bee pollination for productive yields.

BEES ON THE MOVE

Awareness of our dependence on pollinators has grown in recent years, as has the honeybee population--despite threats such as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) , parasitic mites and competition from Africanized bees--but demand for bee-pollinated crops continues to rise at a pace that outstrips the population growth. This means that there are certain parts of the year where cultivators all across the US have to truck their hives to specific areas to ensure sufficient pollination of crops.

The most dramatic example of this is California, which produces 80% of the world's almonds. Almonds are reliant upon honeybees for pollination, but with more than 600,000 acres of trees, the local honeybee population falls far short of what's necessary for adequate pollination. To make up the difference, every February more than a million beehives are trucked across the country to help pollinate the California almond crop. (With a round-trip racking up as much as 8 tonnes of CO2 per truck (approx. 2,200 trucks), the carbon footprint created by almond production would seem to be fairly huge, but one look at the emissions created by red meat production makes honeybee truckers look downright efficient.)

LOCAL PRODUCTION, GLOBAL DEMAND

Researchers are exploring the effectiveness and viability of using native honeybees, also known as 'solitary bees,' for pollination, but as far as local production is concerned, European honeybees remain the easiest to cultivate for pollinating site-specific crops. Of course, they're also responsible for creating honey, a commodity for which global demand is booming. In fact, research conducted at the National University of Comahue in Argentina suggests that the rise in the honeybee population over the past 50 years is more directly related to the world's demand for honey than it is to pollination needs.

The growing demand for honey combined with an ongoing need for local pollinators makes beekeeping a truly sustainable practice. In our own city, the Chicago Honey Co-op goes one step further, using its 100-hive apiary to "provide job training opportunities for the under-employed," while sustainably producing locally harvested organic honey and beeswax products that are sold at farmer's markets around the city, including the Green City Market, the Oak Park Farmer's Market and the Logan Square Farmer's Market.

REPOPULATING THE HIVES

Because every keeper is bound to lose part of his hives every year, it becomes necessary to repopulate the hives, a process that is costly and often leads to sourcing bees from other parts of the country. In the past, the Chicago Honey Co-op has had to purchase its bees from apiaries further south and/or west of Illinois, but Co-op members feel that the more sustainable way of growing their farm would be to raise their own queen bees. To offset the substantial start-up and labor costs of this project (estimated to be around $10,000), the Co-op, in conjunction with Slow Food Chicago, is hosting a Potluck dinner at the apiary this Friday.

Goose Island will provide beer and soft drinks, Plitt Seafood will provide smoked wild salmon and Italian Superior Bakery will bring the bread, but it's up to you to bring the rest of the meal--or at least a dish to share and your own chair. Music will be provided by classical guitarist Neil Smith, and there will also be tours of the garden and apiary. Tickets are $10.00 for Slow Food members and Honey Coop members + side dish or dessert; $15.00 for non-members + side dish or dessert.  Children are free.

There will also be a raffle to directly benefit the Co-op's queen bee project, with prizes including:

• A private tour of the City Hall rooftop garden and beehives
• A dinner for two at Brasserie Jo
• A Joe Breezer Itzy folding bicycle
• Organic/biodynamic wine from Candid wines
• And more!

To reserve your spot, purchase your ticket from Brown Paper Tickets here.

Sweet Summer Solstice Potluck
Friday, June 19th, from 6-9pm
At the Chicago Honey Co-op, 3740 W. Fillmore
Click here for directions
Note: Attendees are asked to "Please wear light colored clothing and a hat. Don’t wear perfumes or colognes or scents."