By: Tamara Waserman
Hive Heroes are the awesome folks in our community who educate, inspire, and empower us to be Shomrei Adamah, Protectors of the Earth, and Shomrei Devorim, Protectors of the Bees. This week, we are featuring Talli, mother of four and dedicated artisan of organic beeswax products, and the founder of Bee Kind Organics. Shoresh partners with Bee Kind Organics to make our Beeswax Shabbat Candles!
We asked Talli a few questions about what inspires her work with bees and beeswax, as well as her connection to Jewish values through her work.
What inspired you to use bees wax to make your products?
As a young mother with young children, my family and I decided to change our life to live in a more integrated way with nature. We bought a hobby farm and off we went. One of the first things that we decided to do was get a beehive. This new venture opened up the door to so much learning. One of the things that I learned was that the wax cappings are removed from the honeycomb in order to harvest the honey. These cappings are the newest cleanest wax in the hive and once removed become a by-product. This by-product is the ideal wax to make beeswax candles out of. I was already aware at this time of the toxic nature of burning paraffin candles and it became clear to me that I must make my own candles out of my own hive.
How do you think Bee Kind Organics inspires other people to be Shomrei Adamah and Shomrei Devorim, protectors of the earth and bees?
It is my intention that as the 100% Beeswax Shabbat and Chanukah candles that I make become a regular item in Jewish households, a door will open for conversation and education of others in the community as to the benefits of the bees and beeswax and their connection to the environment.
How do your Jewish values help you in the creation of your products?
My creations are made with the highest reverence for all of creation.
In your opinion, what is everyone’s responsibility to the bees in our environment? How can environmental organizations such as Shoresh help?
It is my opinion that it is our responsibility as humans to protect our earth including all of creation, to build and develop environmental sustainability in order to heal the earth and create a healthy world for generations to come. Organizations such as Shoresh actively participate in helping the environment by keeping bees and educating the community.
Talli and the Bee Kind Organics Team (and the bees!)