Shore to Shore: Behind A Jar of Honey is a Hive Full of Hard Work

DELMAR, Md. — In the newest edition of Shore to Shore, a roadside farm stand is giving customers a taste of local sweetness. WMDT buzzed around with bees and beekeepers to learn more about the hard work that goes into producing local honey. Sponsored by Schell Brothers.

Local honey is making its way from the beehives to a roadside farm stand in Delmar, where one local beekeeper is showing us how to produce nature’s sweetest treat.

Meet Martin Hutchison, a beekeeper who got his start during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s no better time than now to get into it. I had gotten into chickens a couple of years earlier, and when we moved to this new property, it was perfect for bees. So, I decided to buy a package and start with the bees,” Hutchison said.

Honeybees do more than buzz around flowers. Hutchison said he has seen their impact firsthand through the produce grown on his property.

“The difference I’ve noticed is that prior to having bees, I would have pollination issues with my zucchini, squash, and yellow squash. I wasn’t seeing bees pollinating the flowers, so the flowers didn’t turn into the vegetable, and I didn’t have the vegetable to eat,” Hutchison said.

Now, his gourds are flowering, and his cherry, apple and plum trees are bearing fruit. Hutchison said none of that produce would be possible without bees.

“I wanted to do something to contribute to the betterment of the world, and keeping bees was one way to do that,” he said.

While Hutchison does his part to support the bees, they also do their part to help people. Bees pollinate plants while collecting nectar and pollen to use as a food source for the colony. Eventually, the nectar is transformed into honey, providing a sweet treat that some also value for its potential health benefits.

“If it’s raw honey and unfiltered, it’s the best, and that helps your immune system build up against the allergens in our community,” Hutchison said.

With seven colonies last year, Hutchison’s bees produced 238 pounds of honey.

Behind every jar of honey is a hive full of hard work. Just like the food we eat, knowing where it comes from and what goes into producing it can make it even more special. For Hutchison, that journey begins at a roadside farm stand filled with local honey.

Those interested in purchasing honey can visit Spotted Feathers Homestead and Apiary. Hutchison’s honey is also available at Community Farmacy on Naylor Mill Road.