High up in the hills of Lombardy, south of Milan, are 400 bee hives dotted around fields, woodlands and edging vineyards. They belong to siblings Michela and Paolo who for the past ten years have created a life in the countryside of Lombardy in northern Italy looking after bees, showing a sincere love and caring of their bees. They produce some 4 tonnes of honey a year and just 20 kg of Royal Jelly, the special food for queens.
Bee populations around the world are collapsing under pressure from climate change, insecticides, viruses and the parasitic varroa mite. So bee keepers such as Michela are vital to support a healthy global environment and its biodiversity. Honey is also a delicious crop, very versatile in cooking and also eaten straight out of the jar with a spoon.
The Covid-19 pandemic has kept people away from the countryside and from disturbing their lives, says Michela and the noticable decrease in air pollution has seen flowers bloom stronger than ever and in great numbers. “It’s been a good time from bees, and nature,” says Michela.
Looking for the Queen, on a frame covered in bees Bees fill the cells with nectar and cap each cell with wax Bees are relxed itha puff of smoke from burning cardboard before Michela removes the frames

Michela’s hive each hold ten frames or ‘folders’ Empty cells from a frame Michela explaining how hives fit together

Scraping the was Sticky bee wax A clean frame
Honey filtration FIltered honey, first pass Stages of filtration
Ten frames are placed in a centrifuge to spin the honey out to be filtered Filtered honey rests in these tanks for up around 15 days where more impurities rise to the top and are removed Empty honey tanks, 300litre capacity
The finished product Morning snacks Honey pairs well with cheeses, for example Gorgonzola with Chestnut honey, or Pecorino with Acacia. Locally sourced salami, no added preservatives! A slice of Gorgonzola with a spoonful of Chestnut honey – too bitter for me.
The view from Michela’s farm Vineyards and woodlands in these rolling hills of south Lombardy

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