The Land of Milk and Honey

A History of Beekeeping in Vermont
By Bill Mares & Ross Conrad
Green Writers Press, August, 2020

"The Land of Milk & Honey" is the first book of its kind, tracing the history of the honeybee as it became part of one state’s agriculture. The title describes Vermont’s Addison County, known for its verdant fields, dairy farms and honey. It tells the story of the science of beekeeping and how Vermonters adapted it to the state while contributing to the art of managing honeybees.

What makes it so readable is the way the authors place beekeeping in the context of the historical events of the day and over time. Conrad, whose earlier book, “Natural Beekeeping” introduced organic beekeeping to many of us, and Mares, who wrote of the importance of bees to the natural order of things in “Bees Besieged” are natural storytellers. They guide us through the evolution of an aspect of agriculture that is essential to our food system. For example, we learn how the honeybee was introduced to this country when Europeans settled Virginia in the early part of the 17th century. The bees then migrated throughout the Eastern seaboard. In the land that eventually became Vermont, the Abenaki people were known to use the products of honeybees for food and in the case of beeswax, to preserve clothing, among other things.

Another example: Rowland Thomas Robinson was an early abolitionist as well as one of the area’s successful beekeepers from the 19th century whose farm – Rokeby – was an important stop on the Underground Railroad and has been preserved as a museum. The authors include photographs, solicited from local beekeepers, drawings, and detailed notes that point you to the historical events and introduce you to modern beekeepers who can describe why they keep bees.

The personal stories of the people who brought beekeeping to life in Vermont are as interesting as the technical discussions about the tools and processes they developed. Blending the art, science and history of beekeeping in Vermont, the book tells an engrossing story.

Reviewed by Greg Smela, a beekeeper, gardener and photographer in Brandon,Vermont.