If you're a Green City Market regular or frequent the Logan Square or Oak Park farmer's markets, you've probably seen the Chicago Honey Co-op's products. Perhaps you've tasted their honey and know it's some of the tastiest around.
What you may not know is that the organization provides jobs for the underemployed and practices chemical-free, sustainable agriculture from an unassuming lot on the city's west side.
In addition to honey, the co-op offers a variety of candles and body products, as well as beeswax-dipped pine cone firestarters. Its products are also available online and at several Chicago retailers.
It was featured in "Every Third Bite," a short film about Colony Collapse Disorder – the abrupt disappearance of worker bees – and local beekeepers who are working to keep the practice alive.
On Thursday, Director Michael Thompson, with staff from Millennium Park's Lurie Garden, will give a free lecture entitled "Urban Beekeeping: From the Rooftops to the West Side" at the Cultural Center (78 E. Washington). The event starts at 6 p.m. and is sponsored by Slow Food Chicago.
Related: Hard Honey to Go: Honibe Honey Drops
(Images: Chicago Honey Co-op)
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sounds like a great event. Sadly, Green City Market just sent out an email a couple days ago that included the news that the Honey Coop has run out of honey and won't be selling at the Market any more (I assume that means any more this year...).
view applebranch's profile
Thanks for the update, applebranch. All the more reason to recruit more beekeepers, I suppose.
view Joanna's profile
They run out about this time every year it seems! When it's available, you can also buy it at the Goddess and Grocer.
view lizaboo's profile
Oooh I bought some of that on Etsy a year or so ago! It was good honey!
view UptownGirl's profile
I tasted Chicago COOP honey at the Slow Food Nation Food Pavillion and it was stand-out good. Lovely stuff.
view laila's profile