Art & Bees: Life with the Moultons
Reading Time: 2 minutesChanging flowers to gifts of gold, bees are an industrious and integral part of nature. Though tiny, they make a significant impact on agriculture. They also provide us with a tasty, natural treat—honey.
These little workers and their natural treats form the basis of Stan and Alicia Moulton’s livelihood. The couple has been in the bee keeping business, running The Honey Company, for years. In their work with bees, they provide local honey, bees for sale, beekeeping classes and “bee art” to the community.
Stan, who tends the bees and creates “bee art,” is a fourth-generation beekeeper. Though he initially wanted to pursue a career in fine arts, Stan has found ways to combine bee keeping with his love of art while still providing for his family.
Alicia, to whom Stan proposed using honeybees, is actually allergic to bees. Nevertheless, she still plays a key role in The Honey Company (which is run solely by the couple), managing the company’s office and business affairs. The Honey Company has beehives placed throughout Utah County and beyond to surrounding areas. They currently have 100 hives and this number will increase greatly during the summer.
From the fruits of these hives, the Moultons offer several honey products. Their honey is special because it is raw, meaning it is not heated or cooked. Stan said that raw honey is healthier and more natural in flavor, texture and color.
The Moultons sell honey in bulk (which can be used as food storage) for reduced prices. They also sell honey in squeezable-honey-bear packaging that Stan designed. Other products they offer include beeswax candles and small sports pouches of honey called “Go Honey” designed to deliver energy boosts to athletes on the move.
Another product offered by the Moultons is bees themselves. They sell bees to hobby beekeepers and commercial entities alike. For those wishing to learn about beekeeping, Stan provides lessons. As Alicia said, Stan has “a real talent for teaching people about bees.”
Another type of teaching Stan offers is how to create “bee art.” This art form involves creating structures that lead bees to build honeycombs in artistic patterns. Stan learned this art from his grandfather who was able to get bees to build honeycomb in the shape of Abraham Lincoln’s profile.
The Honey Company website has links to instructional videos on how to create bee art as well as photos of Stan’s bee art creations. Currently, The Honey Company is hosting a bee art competition that any are welcome to join. The winners of the contest will receive up to $100.
“[Our honey] tastes good. It’s all natural,” Alicia said, explaining that the company has many repeat customers because of their honey’s great flavor. To find out more about the Moultons and their honey, bees and artwork, visit thehoneycompany.com and enjoy a sweet treat.
3 Reasons to Buy Local Honey
• Local honey can help with local pollen allergies
• Buying local honey supports the community
• With local honey, you can meet the producers and know exactly what you’re getting
Honey Hot Chocolate
• 1/3 cup Honey
• 1/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa Powder
• Dash Salt
• 1/3 cup Hot Water
• 1 1/3 cup Powdered Milk
• 4 cups Water
• 3/4 t Vanilla Extract
Mix honey, cocoa, salt, and powdered milk in a saucepan. Add 1/3 cup hot water. Wisk it well if you want the yummy froth on top. Cook and stir over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
By Sierra Wilson