Bee-yond delicious: Harvest at Cleveland senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey

Bee-yond delicious: Harvest at Cleveland senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey



The numbers are in: A senior living center in Cleveland will enjoy 98 pounds of fresh honey that was harvested in their back yard, making for a very sweet success.

Sourced straight from hives on site, the sweet stuff is now headed for their kitchen and pantry to be used in everyday meals for months to come.



Bee-yond delicious: harvest at senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey. Photo: Avail Senior Living




The extraction happened outdoors with residents watching the sticky process unfold.

Frames were pulled from the hives, uncapped, then spun in an extractor while everyone kept a safe distance.





Bee-yond delicious: harvest at senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey. Photo: Avail Senior Living



Meanwhile, staff shared information about the process, and residents had a chance to ask questions and see the equipment in action.
This gives residents a chance to connect with what’s happening around them,” said Chris Beckstrand, Owner and Executive Director of Avail Senior Living. “The honey goes straight from our hives to our kitchen, and people enjoy seeing that process up close.

The community has kept beehives on site for several years, using the honey in small batches and sometimes sharing it with visitors and staff.



Bee-yond delicious: harvest at senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey. Photo: Avail Senior Living





This hands-on approach gives residents a chance to get involved with nature and see the direct results of their care.

It also supports the City of Cleveland's initiatives, which earned it the Bee City USA designation in 2023.

The program recognizes the importance of pollinators and supports efforts to protect them through education and habitat care.



Bee-yond delicious: harvest at senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey. Photo: Avail Senior Living



Avail says that they are stepping in and giving a few thousand bees a new home at a time when bees are facing challenges from habitat loss and climate change.

They also added that the community’s on-site beekeeping program supports these pollinators, who are responsible for about one-third of the food we eat.

The hives offer residents a chance to get involved, learn about beekeeping, and maybe even sample some local honey.



Bee-yond delicious: harvest at senior living home nets 98 pounds of honey. Photo: Avail Senior Living



It’s a simple way to make a real impact, and a reminder that sustainability can be both practical and pretty sweet.