A letter from the hive
There’s a lot of buzz about this Summer issue. Get ready to beeeee impressed—we cover a lot of ground. We introduce you to the art of beekeeping, showcase some bee-utiful products, and highlight some sweet honey from around the state (page 68). But that’s not all! You’ll want to make a beeline to St. Albans, Buckhannon, and Babcock State Park; eat some buzz-worthy food at Appalachian Mercantile General Store and Cafe in Morgantown, Avenue Eats in Wheeling, and The Vault on Main in Summersville; and bee-hold the amazing creativity of artists Kiki Alba and the hives at East Wheeling Clay Works and Echo-Lit.
If you are like me and ready to just BE, then spend some time on our regal rivers (page 94). I recently canoed with my honey 11 miles of the South Branch of the Potomac River through The Trough, and I was reminded of how therapeutic a scenic float can be. We launched at 8 a.m. at the Old Fields Bridge north of Moorefield and six hours later floated to Harmison’s Landing outside of Romney. It was both relaxing and invigorating. We spotted five bald eagles, numerous mallard ducks, countless fish, two snakes, and one cow who was cooling off in the river. If being in a kayak is not your scene, then book a three-hour sunset excursion trip on The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway—it hugs the river and provides equally captivating scenery. Make sure you read about other things you can do while you are in Hardy County on page 43.
This issue is truly the bee’s knees. Once again, we partnered with WVU Medicine Children’s and WV Kids Count to bring you our state’s most INCREDIBLE KIDS! You may shed a few tears, but it will also make your heart soar with hope. All of these children are superheroes. They embody determination, grit, love, and kindness. It is stories like these that illustrate why West Virginia is so fortunate to have our own children’s hospital, which is slated to open this fall in Morgantown. The team at WVU Medicine Children’s is dedicated to ensuring that every child in West Virginia has access to world-class health care when they need it–and that is one of the most noble causes I can think of. This important addition to our state is one more reason why West Virginia is a great place to be a kid.
We have much to learn from honey bees. They work together for one common goal: the survival of the colony. They protect their environment, communicate clearly with one another, embody a generous spirit, focus on their top priority, embrace their responsibilities, work diligently, collaborate, and do good. Even the queen is a servant to her hive.
Bee kind,
Nikki
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2022 ISSUE
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