North Mount Pleasant Magazine 2020-2021

NMP www.NorthMountPleasant.com | www.ParkWestNeighborhoods.com | www.BrickyardHomes.com north mount pleasant queens and a five-frame nucleus (a starter kit). Strong honey-producing queens are the name of the game. Lowrimore carefully chooses his best queen from the previous year as his breeder. Ultimately, it might all be up to Mother Nature but knowing the science behind the business is the best way to keep it — and the bees — alive. Another person with honey in her veins is Cheri Ward, owner of Blue Pearl Farms. The farm’s outstanding honey channels secrets about the flora and fauna in Francis Marion National Forest, which includes notes of blueberry bushes in their aptly named Blueberry Forest Wild Harvest. Based in McClellanville, guests can visit the farm to check out its organic nursery plants, pick up honey and honey-based skin products, as well as other produce grown there. Blue Pearl Farms’ honey is also available online (bluepearlfarms.com ), at the Charleston Farmer’s market during the summer and in a smattering of local stores. Ward is a big proponent of honey products. “Our skin is our biggest organ,” she says. “Honey and beeswax are ancient remedies for its needs.” She even touted honey as an acne remedy, saying, “Honey coats and suffocates tiny micro-organisms in our skin.” Ward suggested applying a mixture of warm water and honey on the affected area like a cream and waiting 15 minutes before rinsing it off. She offers three honey recipes on this page that you can add to your own kitchen collection. Blue Pearl Farms offers Apiary Experiences that allow people to gain a deeper understanding of what it is like to be around a hive, as well as Beekeeping Workshops for those who want to take it further. While she firmly advocated for the craft, like Lowrimore, she emphasized the responsibilities. “The more beekeepers, the better off the world is,” she ultimately proclaimed, and knowing how much dedication is involved, who are we to disagree. GOOD MORNING TODDY (courtesy of Henry Lowrimore) • 1 tablespoon honey • 1 tablespoon Braggs apple cider vinegar • 1 cup warm water Combine and enjoy. EVERYTHING TO ALL HONEY FIX (courtesy of Cheri Ward) • 1 tablespoon local honey • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • Pinch of pepper Combine to spread on a piece of salmon, chicken or pork and broil it. You can also sauté one side, turn and glaze the other. Shake it up with 9 tablespoons of olive oil for a salad dressing or marinade. Or add a half cup of sour cream and chipotle powder to make a dip for a crudité. SWEET AND SAVORY SALAD DRESSING (courtesy of Cheri Ward) • cup local honey • cup apple cider vinegar • 1 cup olive oil • Fresh ground pepper • Fresh herbs (especially thyme, parsley and sage) Combine and enjoy with your favorite salad. SWEET ENDINGS ROASTEDVEGETABLES COOKINGTIP (courtesy of Cheri Ward) Combine olive oil, sea salt and pepper and coat vegetables liberally. Roast in the oven. Five minutes before they are ready, combine a tablespoon of honey and tablespoon of olive oil and drizzle over roasting vegetables. Enjoy the caramelization of the vegetable sugars with the honey. It’s busy work keeping bees alive.