Little Walnut Grove Farm
What started out as a couple of bee hives has now expanded to a menagerie including quail, chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, and a handful of enigmatic goats.
Their poultry, primarily raised for laying eggs, are specifically chosen for quality and temperament. Their waddling of runner ducks is truly a site to behold. Each with beautiful and unique plumage and personality. And then, rocketing through the flock and stealing the scene, comes Hei Hei, their Polish chicken with a wild and charming hairdo.
Speaking of hairdos, they have a few spectacular Angora rabbits that are periodically sheared for their wool! Elizabeth is already skilled at knitting and weaving, and hopes to add spinning to her list of talents. Who knows, maybe we'll be selling Made in SC, Angora Swamp sweaters in the near future?!
Bees are a real passion for these ladies, and it takes a lot of time, energy, and some heartbreak to manage the apiary. Varroa mite infestations are a growing threat to our already vulnerable honeybee colonies. Throw in the overuse of pesticides and dwindling food sources, and you can understand why the care and maintenance of honeybees is so important! But it's totally worth it. Not only for the delicious honey they produce, but also for the cool bee vernacular that comes along with it:
royal jelly: secreted by adult worker bees, this is the primary food source for queen bee larvae and young worker larvae for the first few days after hatching
flight school: refers to the orientation flights that young bees undertake to learn the location of their hive and memorize landmarks for future foraging trips
swarming: a natural process where a portion of a honeybee colony, including the queen, leaves its hive to establish a new colony, essentially splitting the original hive into two
We're so excited to keep watching this farm grow! Find their amazing duck and quail eggs in our grocery, or visit their website!
