Living on a Few Acres, Dozing with a Few Bees

Austin Jordan and Ruth Albee have been as busy as the bees they raise since moving to the country. After buying a five-acre parcel north of Stillwater, the couple has been hard at work clearing invasive species, planting serviceberry, hybrid hazelnut and willow, and building a sun-filled cabin where visitors can come and enjoy an up-close, therapeutic experience with bees.

“We planted a willow circle over here, and also have a kiln we use to burn buckthorn and create biochar,” Austin explained with enthusiasm as he led me and my friend Katie around the aptly named Honeycomb Cottage during a recent visit (www.honeycombcottagemn.com). Ruth and Austin originally considered growing mushrooms and perennial flowers but decided to shift their focus toward native plants and edible trees. “We’re trying to listen to the land,” said Ruth, “and let the natural environment guide what we do here.”

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