White House Beehive Is Ready For Spring 2012

The hive is now larger...and the special White House Honey Cupcake recipe...
The White House Beehive, the first to ever be on the grounds, has been expanded from when it was first installed on the South Lawn beside First Lady Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden in 2009. More bee boxes have been added, to increase the output of honey. In 2011, the hive produced 243 pounds of honey, up from 164 pounds in 2010 and 124 pounds in 2009. The base the hive stands on has been changed, too, and lowered for easier access. Last week, Mrs. Obama presented Mrs. Samantha Cameron with a gift of a specially inscribed crystal vase of the honey during the Official Visit. Above, the beehive on St. Patrick's Day, on a beautiful spring afternoon at the White House.

"The honey has been amazing," said Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass recently.

"We have taken out some incredible numbers in terms of what we've got, and it's been amazing for the kids to see the whole process, and to learn the importance of pollinators to what we eat."

In the above photo of the hive taken exactly one year ago, Beekeeper in Chief Charlie Brandts makes repairs on the then-smaller hive. Spring came later last year to Washington: The magnolia tree beside the hive was not flowering in March of 2011, but it is already dropping its blooms this year.

Brandts has worked at the White House as a carpenter for more than three decades, and in 2009 brought his home beekeeping efforts to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the behest of Kass, to ensure that the Kitchen Garden has optimum pollination. In addition to being given as diplomatic gifts, honey from the White House Beehive is used for State Dinners and First Family Dinners, as well as given to Miriam's Kitchen, a community organization that provides meals for DC's homeless.  Honey is also used by the chefs when they homebrew beer. The Obamas' chefs are the first in history to homebrew at the White House.

Kids who visit the Kitchen Garden for tours are given an explanation of the importance of bees in the food chain, and at the last two Easter Egg Rolls, Brandts had a booth set up in front of the Hive, explaining how it works. (Above: A longshot of the beehive on St. Pat's Day, with the White House in the background)

A delicious and easy recipe for White House Honey Cupcakes, created by Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, IS HERE. Check the sidebar for all White House recipes, including salad recipes that use honey in the dressing.

Brandts and Kass explain the White House beehive in this fun video:



*Photos by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama