Welcome, Autumn

Art credit : Agnes Polton / from the latest edition of Ethereal Culture

Today marks the last eclipse of the season, and folks, we made it!. Let us all hope for RENEGOTIATING LOVE AND PEACE. We also unfold into the ending of real tomatoes, long light-filled summer days, bare feet, and will move towards turning within. I am always ready for this season to begin, but I must admit, this year I feel a certain nostalgia for summer that I haven’t had in years. Maybe it’s saying goodbye to the 8 ft. Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia) that have graced my view outside my kitchen window, covering herself in pollinators all day long. This has by far been my favorite new addition to the property, and makes hand washing dishes much more delightful. I think about the bees and hope we don’t lose too many this winter, something we always consider this time of year. 

Admittedly, it’s hard to wrap my mind around getting cozy for autumn and winter when the weight of the world is permeating as well. The environmental devastation of Hurricane Helene and seemingly endless military aggression is difficult to process. I would be remiss to not at the very least mention these things, to honor the lives that have been impacted and lost. I attended an incredible seminar by anatomist Gil Hedley this past week, and I walked away humbled and inspired. He beautifully wove the human experience of life and death into his Nerve Tour anatomical lecture. He touched on several topics that I found surprising, including our judgment of self and others, learning what we see, and love. There is more to the story than what we may initially see, and there is always an open invitation to change our minds. 

Yesterday we processed what might be the last batch of the season. Because we are a small batch producer, and do not buy and sell other beekeepers honey (a common practice), the honey will soon be gone until late spring. If you are not a market goer, but would like to get some, please respond to this email and we will get it to you. Since I have been attending the markets with Billy this past month or so, I have noticed the questions coming through -

Is your honey actually local? 

Yes! All of our current hives span the Kaw Valley radius, with the majority of the honey harvested for sale located two miles from downtown Lawrence. 

What kind of honey do you have?

Bees forage for pollen up to three miles, so essentially, our honey goes through the seasonal stages of what is growing in the area - clover, buckwheat, prairie wildflowers, garden flowers, herbs, fruit trees and shrubs. In our biodiverse location, they bring home a multitude of flavors to create their magical and medicinal honey.

Is your honey raw? 

Yes! Some folks have asked how come your honey is not hardened like other raw honey? Raw honey crystallizes after some time. If you leave our honey set in the cupboard for several months without eating it, it will achieve that crystallization as well. Gently warming the jar in a pan of water will bring it back to a pourable consistency. (Pro-tip, if you don’t go through honey quickly, don’t bother fussing with the plastic honey bears, get the glass jars.)

Do you use treatments? 

No! We are strictly treatment free, despite the constant arguing with Small Hive Beetles that would like to destroy our hives. 

As market season wraps up, so will some of the products that I have been making as of late - Summer Night Serum was a huge hit, so I will bring something similar in for the holiday season. Absinthe Propolis Bitters, Saint Summer Soap, Persimmon Root Shrub, Basil Honey Syrup, Elder Iron Syrup, and Beeswax wraps have all been super fun this season! I will have the Elder Iron Syrup in the next rotation, and will bring back Fire Cider for autumn. Immune supporting tonics, skincare for winter, and other holiday seasonal items will be available soon. 

Evening Massage Appointments Available!

Book a massage with me at Mud & Lotus on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings until 9pm. Book ahead for a soak and sauna! New massage package prices are becoming available soon as well. Call the front desk staff for more information on that. 

Home studio sessions available for previously established clients. You can book those here. Feel free to call or text with questions. I offer affordable rates at my home studio with plenty of parking and no chance of running into anyone you know with post massage hair except myself.

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Thanks for reading,
- Cara

www.thenectar.studio