Reviews of Sanctuary Creek Honey Farm by Jonny Eberle

Fiction
Written By Jonny Eberle
 

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“Best honey EVER”
By hive.mind
1 year ago

I am obsessed with this place. The farm is located four miles off the highway down a secluded gravel road. You'll see the stand on your right as you approach, festooned with flower garlands. Stop here to buy honey and fresh-cut bouquets. The honey at Sanctuary Creek is the best—100% organic, too. The rest of the farm is given over to the hives and a massive field of wildflowers. Be sure to grab a selfie with the enormous sunflowers. Genevieve is fantastic. She gave me a wonderful tour of the entire honey operation. She does it all by herself (I don’t know how she does it all) and her product is second to none. Check this place out if you’re serious about seriously good honey.

 Owner replied:
Thank you, @hive.mind! The bees and I were happy to have you visit. Enjoy the honey!

 

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“Dangerous bees ruin otherwise lovely atmosphere”
By stingmeonce
11 months ago

Honey was just alright. Cute little farm stand, even if it is hard to find. I’m deducting two stars because one of the bees stung my son. He was minding his own business and this highly aggressive bee started to attack him, stinging him multiple times before I managed to get it off him and kill it with my shoe. The owner was no help at all and seemed unbothered by the incident. Needless to say, we will not be coming back.

Owner replied:
We’re sorry to hear that your visit was not ideal. As I mentioned at the time, while honeybees are generally docile, they will sting in response to a perceived threat. And while an individual human may not pose a great threat to a hive, humanity as a whole is to blame for warming the planet and making many places inhospitable for bees, so you really can’t blame them for lashing out.

Also, honeybees can only sting once before they die (it’s rather gruesome and extremely painful for them), so there is no way your child could have been stung multiple times by a single bee, as you claim. Be sure to remove the stinger at the earliest opportunity and apply ice to relieve the pain.

 

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“I wish I could give this place more than five stars”
By JellyRoyale
10 months ago 

Sanctuary Creek is an absolute must if you’re looking to escape the crushing weight of modern life. I drove out to the farm this weekend after breaking up with my partner of six years. After a good long cry between rows of lavender, Genevieve offered me a spoonful of the most delicious honey. It was fresh from the hive with bits of honeycomb still in it, a deep copper color, and it warmed my throat all the way down. In that moment, I felt completely at peace. I spent the rest of the day sitting under the swaying cottonwood trees and listening to the wind rustling the leaves. Simply put, this place is heaven.

Owner replied:
Thank you for your kind words, JellyRoyale. You are not the first to experience such a gift. Walking among the bees truly heals the soul. You may join us, if you wish.

 

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“Weird vibes from the bee lady”
By buzzkill
9 months ago

I was on a road trip and decided to take a detour to Sanctuary Creek Honey Farm because of all the stellar reviews. To be honest, it did not live up to the hype. When I got there, it was nearly dark, but the sign on the road said the farm stand was open, so I drove in. The sound of buzzing bees was deafening. Genevieve, the owner, was way too intense. She hovered over me as I sampled the different varieties of honey, all of which tasted sour to me. I could’ve sworn I saw one or two bees climbing around in her hair, all as she blathered on about the medicinal and spiritual benefits of honey. I eventually consented to buy a jar just to have an excuse to leave, though I doubt I’ll eat any. Would not recommend.

stingmeonce replied:
I’m surprised you didn’t get stung by those awful bees. They’re incredibly aggressive, especially at this time of year when the queen kicks all the worker bees out of the hive and makes them fend for themselves. I can send you an article if you want to know more about the dangers of stinging insects.

Owner replied:
Unfortunately, most people do not understand what we’re building here, nor can they hear what the bees are saying. I thought you were different, @buzzkill, but I can see I was mistaken. You are not one of us. 

At the next full moon, take the lid off the jar of honey and leave it outside. In the morning, close it up again and turn it upside down in a cool, dark place for one week. Then, try it again. I think you’ll agree that the added moonlight makes all the difference. It’s especially good in chamomile tea.

 

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“You can’t blame a bee for stinging…but I’m going to”
By Marco1988
8 months ago

After hearing about Genevieve’s honey for years now in various blogs and forums, I decided it was finally time to make the trek out to Sanctuary Creek Farm. I’m just getting into the “eat local” scene, so I was excited to find a source so close to home. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to sample any honey. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was swarmed. I was stung at least five times before I got back in the car—and some of the bees followed me down the road, chasing the car like they were protecting their territory. I wasn’t rid of them until I got back on the highway, my arms and eyelids swelling with venom. I know it’s in their nature to sting, but I can’t figure out what set them off in the first place. Maybe it was my shampoo? I’m giving Sanctuary Creek two stars because the drive there was gorgeous, but I’ll be carrying an EpiPen with me on future honey excursions.

stingmeonce replied:
I had a similar experience when I went there with my son. Farm management showed a complete lack of regard for safety and continues to put their customers in danger. My son still has nightmares and refuses to go outside without several layers of clothing and a ski mask to protect his face. If you’d like, I can put you in touch with my personal injury lawyer.

 Owner replied:
Something has changed. Something is happening.

 

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“Dilapidated and overgrown”
By Nectar_Of_The_Gods
6 months ago

For the past five years, I’ve used the honey from this farm for my homebrew mead business, but my last shipment never arrived. I tried calling and emailing, but got no response. I was worried something might’ve happened to Genevieve, she lives alone after all. So, I went down to the farm to check on her. Let me tell you, it ain’t what it used to be.

The farm stand is now choked by blackberry and moss has grown over most of the main house. Several trees have fallen across the property, including the old oak at the center of the wildflower field, which now lies on its side, roots stretching up to the sky. The windows were all broken and there was no sign of human habitation.

The bees, on the other hand, seem to be thriving. The air was thick with them, going about their business as if nothing was amiss, and kicking up clouds of pollen as they went. Genevieve must’ve left in a hurry, but I’m not sure why. This farm was her dream. Why would she abandon it? It’s a shame to see it fall into ruin.

One silver lining: I found an outbuilding near the hives with several intact jars of honey. I took a couple (don’t worry, I left some cash in a hidden spot—I’m not a thief). I tasted some when I got home and I’m not exaggerating when I say it blew my mind. Too bad there won’t be any more.

Owner replied:
I was there the whole time, @Nectar_Of_The_Gods. I’m not sure why you couldn’t hear me calling your name. I left the honey for you. Think of it as a parting gift.

 

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“Creepy, post-apocalyptic farm”
By photorama
3 months ago

I love to photograph abandoned places, so when I heard about Sanctuary Creek and the mystery surrounding the beekeeper’s disappearance, I had to grab my gear and check it out. The road is blocked by a gate and a “keep out” sign, but it’s easy enough to get there on foot. The farm itself is pretty ordinary. I got some great shots of sunlight pouring through holes in the roof of the farm stand. There’s still a cash register in there, all covered in lichen, and shards of glass everywhere, like all the jars exploded.

Then, there were the bees. Like, really large bees; I’m talking bees the size of birds. And honey. Honey on everything. Dripping from the trees, running in rivulets through the dirt. The bees didn’t notice me at first until I peered into the main house, which has been transformed into one massive hive. I guess I got too close to the queen or something because that’s when they started chasing me. They didn’t break off until I was back through the gate. In the process, I dropped my camera, so I don’t have any proof. I may go back to retrieve my stuff if I can find some protective gear.

Owner replied:
Stay away. You are not welcome here.

admin replied:
Sanctuary Creek Honey Farm has been marked as permanently closed.

stingmeonce replied:
Good riddance.

 

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“Transformational”
By pollinators4president
2 weeks ago

I came to Sanctuary Creek with my friend Indira. She heard about it on a podcast and wanted to see if the bees had really taken over like everyone says. It’s all true. Everything. Nature has reclaimed this place, but something more is happening. I can’t even begin to explain it. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself.

Every surface is covered in honey. Our feet were soon sticky with it, as were our hands and faces and hair. The bees are massive, so large that flowers sagged under their weight as they lazily buzzed from one to the next collecting pollen and taking it back to what was once a stately farmhouse. It is now an enormous, intricate hive covered in hexagonal cells.

The bees paid us no mind as they went about their tasks, filling each cell with honey and sealing it with thin layers of wax. I noticed that not all of the bees were going to the colony. Some, once fully loaded down with as much pollen as they could carry, flew over the house into the woods behind the farm. I think they’re building something there.

Indira was delighted. She grew up raising mason bees in her backyard like pets. I was afraid of getting stung, so I kept my distance, but Indira went right up to the gaping mouth of the hive, spread her arms wide, and called out, “I’m here.” In an instant, a cloud of bees enveloped her. I stood frozen to the spot. Over the din of buzzing wings, I could hear her laughing. The bees crawled all over her, covering her from head to toe. And then they flew off, scattering. Indira was gone. It was the most beautiful and baffling thing I’ve ever seen.

I don’t know how long I stood there, unable to move, and it was dusk when I finally made it back to the main road. I have a feeling I’ll be back, when the time is right. I didn’t try any of the honey, I don’t know who Genevieve is or where she went, and I don’t know if I’ll ever see my friend again. I don’t have any answers. You can either believe what I say or go see it for yourself. Five stars.

 
 

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Jonny Eberle

Jonny Eberle lives in Tacoma, WA with his family, three typewriters, and a dog. His fiction has been featured in Creative Colloquy, Grit City Magazine, and All Worlds Wayfarer. You can listen to his science fiction audio drama, The Adventures of Captain Radio, wherever you enjoy podcasts, and you can find more of his work and sign up for his mailing list at jweberle.com.

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