What's the buzz?

From left: Carol, Amara, Brian, Odin, and Quill Orth  

Bees reflect the state of our earth. 

“Many people know that bees are important for the pollination of many of the foods we eat, but it is very important to also realize that bees are indicators of the health of the land around us,” Carol Fassbinder-Orth (‘03 genetics) says.

Fassbinder-Orth and her husband Brian Orth (‘02 agronomy) opened Bountiful Blossoms Bee Company, LLC in 2015 near their home in Glenwood, Iowa. Half boutique for those looking for all-natural honey and beeswax products, half educational opportunity for their community and visitors from across the state of Iowa and neighboring states. 

Fassbinder-Orth, who has her doctorate in zoology and is a professor at Creighton University, includes science in every step of the process.

“I am a better honey bee researcher because I understand the pragmatic aspects of beekeeping, and I am a better beekeeper because I am always researching honey bee health in my colonies,” she says.

Bountiful Blossoms’ honeys are separated by floral source, confirmed through pollen analysis – “An approach that is innovative and sets us apart, and would not be possible without the scientific training we received from Iowa State,” Fassbinder-Orth says. 

Customers are provided pollen density and identification in each of Bountiful Blossoms’ varietal honeys. In 2018, the beekeepers began the process of restoring native Loess Hills prairie to their 23-acre farm. The couple has also designed a visitors center on site. Naturally, outreach activities with local and Omaha-based natural resource partners pair perfectly. 

“Science is the foundation of what sets our business apart from competitors, and our understanding of the science of bees and habitat began at Iowa State University,” Fassbinder-Orth says. “Through Brian’s land management training and my bee research background, we can connect habitat to bee biology in ways that are informative and helpful for the public and other beekeepers alike.” 

Late this month, Bountiful Blossoms celebrated the grand opening of its Farm Shop, where curious customers and avid apiculturists alike can enjoy some liquid gold while participating in learning opportunities. 

“Our primary goal is to be able to educate people on the importance of bees, and how they truly serve as a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for the health of our ecosystem,” Fassbinder-Orth says.

Beekeeping is in Fassbinder-Orth’s blood. The Iowa native grew up on a honey bee farm in Elgin, where her parents owned about 2,000 colonies. When she came to Iowa State, Fassbinder-Orth was quick to pair up with top-notch faculty and got involved with clubs and activities on campus. Through their Cyclone adventure, both Carol and Brian recognized a calling to make their community and the state of Iowa a better place for bees to thrive. 

“Each of these activities allowed me to interact with different types of people and learn to communicate my ideas in different ways,” Fassbinder-Orth says. “They helped me mature and appreciate the need for outreach and connection with the public.”

Starting a business from scratch isn’t the easiest way to make a difference. The couple, along with their three children, stay busy as … well … bees. Stings are expected. 

“We try to avoid it at all costs, of course,” Fassbinder-Orth says. “The most common way in which we get stung is by accidentally smashing bees with our fingers when we are removing frames from the colonies. We probably get stung about once a day when we are working with the bees in the field, although it can be as high as 10 times a day on a bad day.”

But, in the end, helping visitors understand the importance of bees is worth the effort. 

“The biology of bees is intrinsically linked to the health of our ecosystem,” Fassbinder-Orth says. “Weather patterns affect flower biology, which in turn affects colony health. They are a manifestation of the beauty of ecology, and the more I learn about them, the more I respect them. On a more basic level, watching something as basic as bees bringing in pollen or hatching are truly mesmerizing experiences.”

 

Story published: August 2020