Australian Stonefruit Grower Magazine Issue 4 April 2017 | Page 9

Feature Elizabeth Frost has been stung some 200 times, but her love affair with bees continues unabated. Photo: Kathy Keatly Garvey Beekeeper This profile first appeared in the Maitland Mercury and is here reproduced with permission. In the last issue of Australian Stonefruit Grower we featured story which described the role that honey bees play in pollination of crops, stone fruit among others. Here, Rick Allen profiles a professional beekeeper, Elizabeth Frost. E lizabeth’s Frost’s enthusiasm is palpable. “Want to try gap under my headwear and taste. It’s not as thick as I some,” she asks in her northern Californian accent, as would have expected, but deliciously sweet. she dips in her forefinger, gives it a quick twist and then sips the golden nectar. She holds the frame out for me to try. But there’s a problem. I’m in protective gear – a sort of “It’s a touch cold today, so the honey’s not as warm and runny as usual,” she says. “A pity.” We’re in a partly shaded area between trees at the back of Tocal Agricultural College, where Elizabeth, honey cross between Ned Kelly and an Ebola nurse. Headgear, bee development officer with the NSW Department of netted at the front and zipped at the neck, long sleeved Industries, is showing me her hives and trying to explain white jacket and thick gloves that go up to my elbows. this beekeeping caper. It’s poor form to get your interviewing journalist stung by bees. With Elizabeth’s help – a quick unzip here, off with the glove there – I dip my finger into the honey cells, find the summerfruit.com.au But first, let’s talk about Elizabeth and her journey from the Bay area of San Francisco – “Silicon Valley, really” – to the Hunter Valley. “I’ve always been passionate about insects,” the 28-year- April 2017 | Australian Stonefruit Grower 9