HAVE YOU HEARD THE BUZZ?

Holy Name Medical Center Produces Honey From Rooftop Hives

BY KIMBERLY REDMOND

There’s some serious buzz lately around Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.

High on the rooftop of the hospital, there are between 60,000 and 70,000 honeybees living comfortably in two hives set up and maintained by Rod Donovan, a recently retired Holy Name employee and professional beekeeper.

sounds of bees, the colonies have yielded 120 pounds of raw honey, which has been jarred and made available for purchase at Holy Name’s gift shop, a venture that reinvests 100 percent of its proceeds to support honey on our rooftop, but it won’t be our last,” said Mosser, who added that Donovan will collect honey seasonally and that the hospital is excited to continue its partnership with him.

Steve Mosser, Holy Name Medical Center’s executive vice president of operations, said the hospital is “thrilled” with how successful the pilot project went.

A professional beekeeper for nearly two decades, Donovan would often bring honey he produced to Holy Name, where “it quickly became a coveted item” among employees, according to Mosser.

After Donovan retired from Holy Name’s maintenance department in February, the hospital chatted with him about starting and managing an apiary near the hospital’s rooftop garden as a way to promote sustainability and health.

Since the hives were added in mid-May, Donovan has regularly maintained them to keep track of the population and harvested honey on two separate occasions.

“I think it’s been a home run experience to see how quickly those bees adapted to the hospital. I’ve never had a hive on the fourth level, so it’s just been amazing to see how productive the bees were,” Donovan said. “Also, the honey we extracted was just spec- keeping in 2004, he remembers how captivated he was by the inner workings of the hive.

“It’s incredible what the queen does and how they all work together to keep the hive alive,” he said. “It’s really, really amazing.”

Through his beekeeping practice, Donovan manages several apiaries across the state, which, he admitted “is a lot of work” but has a very sweet reward.

“I don’t want to put down store-bought honey,” he said. “But, there’s just somethat makes it so interesting!”

Now, he is in the process of getting hives prepared for the winter when bees will be left on their own inside the colonies until about February.

Continued on page 48 the practice of beekeeping has been on the rise and rooftop apiaries have sprung up in many cities, like New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

Although quite small, bees are intensely connected to the environment and play an important role in the pollination cycle. And, if they aren’t doing well, it isn’t a good sign for the rest of the ecosystem.

Between increased development, climate change and the continued use of harmful pesticides, the worldwide bee population is on the decline.

Hospitals have also been doing their part to improve honeybee health, and, in turn, the environment.

A growing number of hospitals across the country have joined the rooftop hive movement in recent years, including several across North Jersey: The Valley Hospital, Chilton Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center.

“Establishing the rooftop beehives is in line with our dedication to sustainability, such as recycling, green construction initiatives and reducing our carbon footprint,” Mosser explained. plants up to two miles from their hives. Then, they return to the colony to begin honey production.

Holy Name Chief of General Surgery Dr. Ron White said, “As a healthcare leader, we are always looking for new opportunities to enhance the health and wellbeing of our community.”

“With honeybee numbers decreasing worldwide, we’re proud to not only help the honeybees but harvest a sweet, healthy treat for our employees and community,” he said. “Beehives can also serve as a welcome distraction for our hospitalized patients, many of whom have a view of the hives. The distraction and connection with nature also assist in healing.”

White went on, “Also, bees are one of the most important pollinator species for our ecosystem and honey Continued

Natural honey has so many antioxidants, minerHoney’s antibacterial properties can soothe sore they can certainly taste the fruits of all their