Beekeeping brings Cleveland seniors a taste of their own honey

Beekeeping brings Cleveland seniors a taste of their own honey

Avail Senior Living recently wrapped up its annual honey harvest, and the numbers are in: 98 pounds of fresh honey, straight from the onsite hives and heading for the kitchen.

The extraction took place outdoors with residents watching the sticky process unfold. Frames were pulled from the hives, uncapped and spun in an extractor while everyone kept a safe distance.

Staff shared information about the process, and residents had a chance to ask questions and see the equipment in action.

The honey collected will be used in everyday meals prepared in the community kitchen — no need to outsource when the bees are working in-house.

“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 onsite for several years, using the honey in small batches and sometimes sharing it with visitors and staff.

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

At a time when bees are facing challenges from habitat loss and climate change, Avail is stepping in by giving a few thousand of them a new home.

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

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