ABOVE : Rhonda Fair posing between two of the more chill hives of honey bees outside her east Norman home . |
|||
AT RIGHT : Laissez Faire Honey Farm CEO Rhonda Fair at December ’ s Art Walk selling the last of her 2021 honey harvest . |
|||
tuate throughout the year . Winter time is when there are fewest bees in the colony . They huddle together in a ball and vibrate their wings to generate warmth all the way up to 95F . “ Some beekeepers lost hives during the horrible February , 2021 freeze ,” Fair said . “ I was fortunate and didn ’ t lose any . My hives survived -14F .” Laissez Faire Farm ’ s product is a wildflower honey from whatever is in bloom within flying distance of east Norman . “ It varies throughout the year ,” Fair said . “ What I harvest in June is lighter |
and has a different flavor from September ’ s which is darker and richer . Some people specifically have their bees work clover or orange blossoms .”
Fair is a happy , friendly and outgoing individual . It begs the question if this helps her in beekeeping . “ It helps to have that kind of personality just like it does for an educator ,” she said . “ I like to talk to people and answer their questions about bees .” She also spreads some honey around in her day job . Fair is tribal liaison for Oklahoma ’ s Department
|
of Transportation . Part of her mission is to ensure highways are not planned through sacred sites , cemeteries or archeological areas . She also works to partner the Native nations ’ funds with state money on Federal work projects .
“ We get roads improved for everyone who drives here in Oklahoma ,” she said . “ It ’ s very rewarding work .”
Norman is a good place to keep bees . Her neighbors are aware of the enterprise next door and receive gifts of honey .
|
“ There are other beekeepers here ,” she said . “ With Facebook it ’ s easy to get in touch with other people and mentors . There ’ s a lot of knowledge required . I can call my dad about the pests that bother bees . But beekeepers by and large are a very friendly bunch of people , even the crotchety old men .”
Fair is married so she had to be asked about terms of endearment .
“ I ’ m more likely to call him honey than he is to call me honey ,” she said with a chuckle .
|