The Taste of Honey

 On Wednesday, Esther and I represented our EAPPI team in Shufa.  This journey involved contacting Muawya, our regular taxi driver, to see if he could accommodate our request.  He brought us to the road blocks placed in front of  the long hill up to Shufa.  This has been blocked with huge concrete road barriers by Israel for several years to protect their use of the road to the illegally built settlement near Shufa.  It can only be used by the Israeli Military and the settlers living in the settlement.  I only shake my head when I see how ridiculous and inconvenient it is for the residents of Shufa to travel anywhere and especially portions of their own village separating Upper Shufa from Lower Shufa.   There is a service vehicle on the other side of the roadblock that will drive us around the long way to Upper Shufa.   I call my EA friend, Esther…..the Swiss Trekker…..as she is  more readily able to go straight uphill than I am.  So we decided to compromise by catching a ride uphill and walking down for the return trip.

Immediately upon arrival at the Women’s Resource Center a member of the conversation group signaled us to follow her around to an area in back of the resource center.  Once we saw everyone assembled we realized we would have a lesson in bee keeping. 

Two agriculture engineers from Kadoorie U. had already started their lecture and demonstration about the fine art of bee keeping.  Each household that wants to try bee keeping will be given two hives under this particular program.   Many women and children from Shufa were intently listening and watching as the instructors carefully showed and outlined how to take care of a bee hive. 

Since all of us were standing very close to the hive I was a bit apprehensive at first about being so close to hundreds of bees.  The instructors did not have gloves or netting.    None of us had any type of protection against the buzzing bees.  However,  no one was bothered by the bees or stung throughout the session.  One of the instructors blew smoke around while the other instructor opened up the hives and worked with the bees.  There were no men present at this training session…..only women and children.   Everyone was very enthusiastic and after the outdoor session we went inside the center to watch a video about bee keeping.  The instructors passed around honey produced and sold in Nablus.  We each had a taste of honey which was certainly a good incentive to try raising bees.

All of a sudden it was lunch time and we sat outside enjoying the nice warm sun in the courtyard of the resource center.   We had a wonderful picnic of falafel sandwiches provided by some of the women of Shufa.  I was amazed with the simplicity and good taste of this fine feast.   Then we divided up into two groups.  Some joined our conversation group and the rest continued learning more about honey bees.

Walking  down the hill from Upper Shufa we enjoyed the beginning of springtime in Palestine.  The almond trees were just starting to blossom with beautiful little white blossoms. 

There was a red flower between the rocks that may have been a cousin to the crocus which is the first blooming flower in Montana in springtime. 

We passed a shepherd and his sheep on the hillside.  A man riding a donkey carrying fresh herbs passed us on the road.  Ah….another beautiful day in Shufa.

Susanne