Get to understand our essential and industrious pollinators and their needs at the Wellcome OM Center BEE Conscious Honey Bee Day and Craft Fair on Aug. 19.
It’s not all honey for the world’s bee population. Studies show that bee colonies have been on the decline since 2000 because of habitat loss, intense farming practices, climate change, and the misuse of pesticides. In fact, bees are so vital to our ecosystem that without them, nutritious crops, such as fruits, nuts, and many vegetables, could eventually become extinct.
And it’s not just bees that are endangered. Other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds, are also becoming increasingly under threat from human activities. This global decline poses such a serious threat to human well-being and livelihoods that more should be done to safeguard our hard-working allies in maintaining our eco-system.
In recognition of the importance of our bees, the WellCome OM Integral Healing and Education Center in Spring Hill will be holding a BEE Conscious Honey Bee Day and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19. It promises to “bee” a day of education, celebration, a host of vendors, and lots of tips on how we can all contribute something to save our bees.
Sponsored by Gardner Audiology, the event will feature engaging, educational speakers with sessions extending throughout the day, including Dr. Maria Scunziano- Singh, a medical doctor, and naturopathic practitioner. She is also the founder of the WellCome OM Integral Healing and Education Center and is dedicated to the “wholeness of wellness.”
Better known as “Doctor Maria” or “Dr. M” to her patients, her methods include a combination of conventional treatments and naturopathic medicine, with teachings on lifestyle, specific nutritional plans, and other integrative techniques. Dr. M will be giving a presentation on how we can “Help Save The Bees.”
“The event is designed not only to celebrate these tireless pollinators but also to understand their vital role in our ecosystem, the threats they face, and how we all can contribute to their preservation,” said Dr. Scunziano-Singh. “We hope attendees will leave with a greater appreciation for bees and practical steps to implement in their own backyards.”
Other speakers include Michael Bonanno, the Clean Food Cultivator at the OM Grown Community Garden. He teaches people the joys of gardening and eating good, clean food. He will make a presentation on Planting for Pollinators.
Dr. William Lester, from the University of Florida/IFAS Extension, will talk about Florida’s Native Bees, and Jayne Arrington, a Certified Hypnotherapist and a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, will talk about Bee Consciousness – Our Spirit Totem.
For those interested in the basics of Backyard Beekeeping, Ezekiel Merino, a Spring Hill resident, and Cuban immigrant, will offer tips on starting your first hive. Merino also offers the safe removal of bee hives for local people.
Also presenting will be Robert and Carleigh Patterson, also known as the Honey Couple. Enchanted by the world of honey bees, this expert bee pair started out in 2017, when they bought their first beehive. It has since grown into a thriving business in the Tampa Bay Area. The couple is currently focused on growing their bees, selling honey and bees (nucs), and helping backyard beekeepers with their hives. Check out their unique products, including spicy honey, at thehoneycouple.com.
Whether you’re interested in starting your own backyard beehive or you’re a seasoned beekeeper, there is something for everyone at this event. Family-friendly activities are also planned, making it a perfect outing for the entire family.
This is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of these vital pollinators and their needs while networking with fellow bee enthusiasts.
Together, let’s make Hernando County a honey bee haven.
If You Go
What:
BEE Conscious Day
When:
Saturday, August 19th,
from 10 am – 2 pm
Where:
The Wellcome OM Integral Healing and Education Center
4242 Lake in the Woods Drive, Spring Hill, FL 34607
Visit:
wellcomeomcenter.com
Phone:
352-600-4242
The OM Center features three buildings: an AuratoriOM, hosting educational lessons, classes, demos, concerts, speakers, dialogues, and performances; a movement studio and demonstration kitchen and a wellness center that offers massage therapy, life coaching, naturopathic care, nutritional counseling, energy healing, and a conscious market with natural products.
List of Vendors
Sponsor: Gardner Audiology
WellCome Om Integral Healing and Education Center
Integrative Healing at OM
Herbert Sherbert
Yummy Thai Food
Thirsty Lemonade
Mo’rock’in Mediterranean Food
Hernando IFAS Extension
Sierra Club Adventure Coast
The Gilded Butterfly Boutique
Soapy Suds n’ Candles
Dawn To Earth
Biggie Bee’s Natural Pet Treats
Stix n’ Stones
Sunflower Girl & Co.
Charley’s Candles
Bee Ready 4 Anything
Tiney Hiney Custom Cloth
PaperPie/ Usborne Books
Pinetop Custom Creations
Alyssa Hadley Gifts
Bird Houses by Barbara
Amira’s Accessories
Wild Acres Florida
Dance Craft
Henna Art w/ Sam
Forrester Made
Microcirculation Center
Mind’s Eye Hypnotherapy
Vincent House Hernando
Hernando Homesteaders Seed Swap
J & M Creations
Your Urban Microgreens
Elsa’s Special Treats
Crotchet Gifts by Tami
Create It Art Studio
The Honey Couple
Sassy Classy Clay Creations
Debbie Does Soap
Angela
The Honey Guy
Disco Dopamine
Faeble Co
Om Grown Community Garden
Joyous Jewels
Special Olympics
