On this National Farmers Day, I walked outside to peak down over our pollinator garden this morning, I was truly thankful for the recent rain. I then realized that the rain would also affect my team of beekeepers to do their day to day activities.
About that time my son Stetson, who is the young leader of the pack, saw me shaking my head and hollered up the hill to say “What?” and I replied RAIN!!! He knew I was concerned about the plan to go feed and service the 2000+ colonies scattered across the Southeast. Stetson replied, “It’s just Rain”. You see what I did not know at that time that Stetson and the guys had already Googled the weather and knew it would stop in 7 minutes. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
It was at that moment that I was lost in time… I felt the rain and I felt the mud under my feet and was already picturing the trucks stuck in the field and was ready to abort the mission.
I couldn’t help but laugh, and I started thinking about the changes in technology since I began Bee Well Honey Farm 20 years ago.
Now I have websites, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and I think some 80 more social media type accounts.
I also never thought I would be blogging and teaching my craft online.
It really is kind of amazing when you think about it.
One of the best things is the ability to search for ideas and products online. I really like being able to search “How to make candles” and learn the process in minutes or at least get the idea of how to begin and try the process until I eventually get it right.
The most valuable part of the web is the ability to connect with consumers to buy your products. Our online sales have skyrocketed since we spent the time and money to make it easy for consumers to buy our products.
In the past I would fill my back seat full with our honey and drive around looking for customers – now they come to us from all over the US.
I still like the one on one exchange between the beekeeper and the customer, but now when we do it everyone goes to a store celebration or a Farmers Market and you sell a jar at a time. The online connection is, as I said, amazing.
It’s been 7 minutes and the sun is now shining..the rain is gone. Just blows my mind LOL.
Happy National Farmers Day!
