Lou Naylor at the Burlington County Farm Fair On National Honey Bee Day, we honor the vital role honeybees play in our ecosystem and the dedicated beekeepers who care for them. Among these beekeepers is Eloise (Lou) Naylor, a passionate advocate for bees based in New Jersey, where she runs Moorestown HoneyWorks and is active in the Eastern Apiculture Society.
Lou’s journey into beekeeping was inspired by her grandmother, a beekeeper herself, although Lou didn’t start until later in life. “My grandmother was a beekeeper, but I never got to help her. I grew up eating a lot of honey,” Lou recalls. It wasn’t until 2007, when an off-the-grid neighbor moved in next door, that Lou truly began her beekeeping adventure. “I asked him if he would be my mentor, and that’s what got me started,” she says. Her mentor, then in his 80s, found renewed joy in sharing his knowledge with Lou. “His stepdaughter initially had reservations about keeping bees at their house, but after a couple of months, she thanked me. She said, ‘We haven’t seen him this happy in a long time.’”
Lou’s passion for beekeeping goes beyond the practical—it’s a love for every aspect of the bees themselves. “I love the sound of bees, the scent, the little breeze from their wings. Watching them work hard and share is just fascinating,” she explains.
Her passion is rooted in a deep understanding of the critical role honeybees play in our environment. “The economic impact on our state is huge. We need pollination to feed people. Without bees, we wouldn’t have fruits, and there would be much less food on the shelves.”
As someone who is deeply connected to the land, Lou is deeply aware of how essential honeybees are to the health of our farms. “We really need them to keep our farms going. It used to be that every farmer kept bees, and I wish it were still that way. With the challenges bees face today, it’s all about careful practices to keep bees alive,” she says.
Lou also shared some simple but vital advice for new beekeepers: “Give honey to your neighbors.”
New Jersey honey has its unique appeal, thanks to the state’s diverse floral sources. “The diversity of the trees and plants here makes the honey delicious. I prefer a blend of honey from various sources—it’s more interesting and flavorful.”
That being said, to those not ready to become beekeepers but still interested in supporting bees, Lou suggests planting bee-friendly gardens. “Plant a lot of the same thing, and try to have food available for bees across three seasons. Also, ensure there’s a water source with pebbles or something for the bees to stand on—they can’t swim.”
Small actions like planting a bee-friendly garden can significantly support the honeybee population and the broader ecosystem. Helping honeybees is about preserving nature and securing the future of farming in our state.
Lou is also heavily involved with the Eastern Apicultural Society, which hosts educational conferences and funds honeybee research. Next year, the conference will be held in New Jersey, and Lou is excited about the opportunity to bring more attention to the importance of bees and beekeeping.
Lou will be going into greater detail by hosting a Beekeeping workshop this coming Monday, August 19th with us at the New Jersey Agricultural Society. There are still some signups available!
- Story by Danny Rinaldi
08/17/24
Lou’s journey into beekeeping was inspired by her grandmother, a beekeeper herself, although Lou didn’t start until later in life. “My grandmother was a beekeeper, but I never got to help her. I grew up eating a lot of honey,” Lou recalls. It wasn’t until 2007, when an off-the-grid neighbor moved in next door, that Lou truly began her beekeeping adventure. “I asked him if he would be my mentor, and that’s what got me started,” she says. Her mentor, then in his 80s, found renewed joy in sharing his knowledge with Lou. “His stepdaughter initially had reservations about keeping bees at their house, but after a couple of months, she thanked me. She said, ‘We haven’t seen him this happy in a long time.’”
Lou’s passion for beekeeping goes beyond the practical—it’s a love for every aspect of the bees themselves. “I love the sound of bees, the scent, the little breeze from their wings. Watching them work hard and share is just fascinating,” she explains.
Her passion is rooted in a deep understanding of the critical role honeybees play in our environment. “The economic impact on our state is huge. We need pollination to feed people. Without bees, we wouldn’t have fruits, and there would be much less food on the shelves.”
As someone who is deeply connected to the land, Lou is deeply aware of how essential honeybees are to the health of our farms. “We really need them to keep our farms going. It used to be that every farmer kept bees, and I wish it were still that way. With the challenges bees face today, it’s all about careful practices to keep bees alive,” she says.
Lou also shared some simple but vital advice for new beekeepers: “Give honey to your neighbors.”
New Jersey honey has its unique appeal, thanks to the state’s diverse floral sources. “The diversity of the trees and plants here makes the honey delicious. I prefer a blend of honey from various sources—it’s more interesting and flavorful.”
That being said, to those not ready to become beekeepers but still interested in supporting bees, Lou suggests planting bee-friendly gardens. “Plant a lot of the same thing, and try to have food available for bees across three seasons. Also, ensure there’s a water source with pebbles or something for the bees to stand on—they can’t swim.”
Small actions like planting a bee-friendly garden can significantly support the honeybee population and the broader ecosystem. Helping honeybees is about preserving nature and securing the future of farming in our state.
Lou is also heavily involved with the Eastern Apicultural Society, which hosts educational conferences and funds honeybee research. Next year, the conference will be held in New Jersey, and Lou is excited about the opportunity to bring more attention to the importance of bees and beekeeping.
Lou will be going into greater detail by hosting a Beekeeping workshop this coming Monday, August 19th with us at the New Jersey Agricultural Society. There are still some signups available!
- Story by Danny Rinaldi
08/17/24
