Planet Bee Honey Farm and Honeymoon Meadery isn’t just a place to buy honey; it’s an interactive experience that invites visitors to learn about the fascinating world of bees, explore the variety of honey products, and taste hand-crafted honey and meads. Located in Vernon, Planet Bee has been educating and inspiring guests since 1997 with its on-site beehives, sustainable practices, and unique honeybee products. This is where the passion for honey meets a commitment to sustainability and education, creating a one-of-a-kind destination for locals and tourists alike.
Honey Production and Sustainability at Planet Bee
At the core of Planet Bee is its dedication to producing high-quality honey while supporting honeybee health and environmental sustainability. The farm features a handful of beehives on-site, offering visitors a close-up view of the bees in action. The rest of their hives are located on a nearby farm, allowing the bees to thrive in a large tract of farmland.
Planet Bee is known for its extensive selection of raw, pure honey, including their own and that sourced from local beekeepers across Western Canada. Every jar of honey is bottled and labelled by hand at the Vernon storefront, ensuring that customers receive only the best. Sustainability is a guiding principle here, with a focus on fostering a symbiotic relationship between humans and honeybees. The farm not only produces honey but also educates visitors on how they can contribute to honeybee health.
At Planet Bee, the core belief centres around the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and honey bees. They see this connection as essential for both species to thrive and are committed to fostering this partnership in a sustainable way. By educating the public about honey bees and promoting their health, Planet Bee aims to inspire a global movement towards better care and awareness of these critical pollinators. The goal is not just to protect honey bees but to ensure that humans also benefit from their vital role in ecosystems, creating a relationship that elevates both species in harmony with nature.
The Planet Bee Shop: Honey and Beyond
Planet Bee offers an extensive selection of bee-derived products, each with unique health benefits. With over 20 varieties of honey, hand-picked by owner and master beekeeper Ed, visitors can enjoy a wide range of flavours, from local to international sources, all pure, raw, and unpasteurized. Their product line includes Bee Propolis, made from tree and plant resins that bees use to create a sterile environment in the hive. Propolis is rich in over 300 chemical compounds and has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Bee Pollen, considered one of nature's most complete foods, contains up to 40% protein, along with essential vitamins and minerals, making it a versatile addition to smoothies, salads, or cereals. It is also known to help alleviate seasonal allergies when introduced gradually into the diet.
Royal Jelly, the exclusive food of the Queen Bee, is packed with nutrients that promote cell regeneration, aid in collagen production, lower bad cholesterol, and reduce symptoms of PMS and menopause. Beeswax, sourced from the hive’s building material, offers a clean, slow burn with a natural honey fragrance, perfect for crafting dripless candles or using in cosmetic applications. Planet Bee’s beeswax is 100% Canadian sourced and food grade. In addition to these offerings, Planet Bee provides a range of locally-produced skin and body care products, all formulated with natural ingredients and designed to nourish and moisturize the skin. Their home and garden collection includes bee-friendly items, perfect for adding a touch of nature to any personal space while promoting a love for bees. Whether looking for nutritional supplements, skincare, or eco-friendly home products, Planet Bee’s wide array of offerings is designed to support both human health and bee wellness.
Educational Programs and Bee-Friendly Gardens
Planet Bee takes education seriously, offering a variety of ways for visitors to engage with the world of bees. Guests can stroll through the bee-friendly gardens, complete with QR codes that provide detailed information about pollinators and plants. These gardens are not just for viewing—they're a key part of the farm’s educational outreach, showing visitors how to create bee-friendly spaces in their own homes.
For those looking for more structured learning, Planet Bee offers drop-in presentations during the summer months and custom group presentations year-round. Highlights include a guided viewing of the indoor observatory hive, honey tastings of local varieties, and a walk through the gardens to spot different pollinators. These programs are a hit with school groups, hobby clubs, and anyone curious about the critical role honeybees play in our ecosystem.
Exploring the Meadery: Hand-Crafted Mead
Honeymoon Meadery, located on-site at Planet Bee, is the first commercial meadery in the Okanagan, offering hand-crafted mead made from local honey. Styled and served like wine, their meads come in various flavours and sweetness levels to suit different preferences. Varieties such as Okanagan Delight remain popular, offering a unique way to enjoy the fruits of the region.
Visitors are invited to taste mead at the Tasting Bar, which is open daily with no fees. The range of mead options showcases how honey can be reimagined as a drinkable delight. Whether you're new to mead or a seasoned enthusiast, Honeymoon Meadery offers an experience that's both educational and enjoyable.
A Family Legacy: Planet Bee’s History
Founded by Ed Nowek and now operated with his children, Olivia and James, Planet Bee has grown from a small honey business into a regional leader in sustainability and education. Since moving to Vernon in 2003, Planet Bee has expanded its educational programs and bee-friendly initiatives, earning recognition as Vernon’s first Biosphere Committed Entity in 2019. The addition of enhanced learning gardens and QR codes in 2021 furthered Planet Bee’s mission to educate the public about bees while promoting sustainable practices.
Planet Bee’s focus on sustainability and education is a family tradition. With every jar of honey and every visitor that walks through their doors, the Nowek family continues to elevate awareness of honeybee health and environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
Planet Bee Honey Farm and Honeymoon Meadery offers an experience that combines sustainability, education, and a passion for honeybees. Visitors can learn about the incredible role bees play in our ecosystem, sample a wide range of honey products, and enjoy a taste of the Okanagan with their handcrafted meads. Planet Bee is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in bees, honey, and sustainability.
