Many people were exceptionally generous to me while I was researching and writing The Honey Companion: sharing tips, information, recipes, and stories; helping to test (and taste) recipes and remedies; lending or recommending books and articles; teaching me about the amazing life of bees and letting me try all kinds of delicious honey.
Many thanks to Claire Marin and Tracy Gavant of Catskill Provisions for your abundance of ideas, time, and enthusiasm. And, mmmmm, that whiskey! You are a force to be reckoned with. And to Maggie Schwed, beekeeper (and walking encyclopedia) at Stone Barnes Center for Food and Agriculture, who gave me my first look at a real live beehive and answered all of my dumb questions with accessible clarity—thank you.
To my family, friends, and colleagues who enthusiastically and continually taste and test recipes with me and for me: I am grateful, as always, for your help and support. Sarah Blechman, I’m sorry you skinned your knee that day, but I appreciate your help with the book! (See? I promised!)
To my agent, Sharon Bowers, whose wisdom I cherish and whose support is endless, including at times when I refuse to remove the word “honey” from the subject line in a long chain of emails, because I find it both funny and endearing to have each message begin with that word: Honey, thank you.
Huge thanks to Ann Treistman, Aurora Bell, and the rest of the buzzing hive at The Countryman Press. I loved writing this book and am grateful to you for the opportunity to make it happen.
Of course, I couldn’t have done any of this without the support, patience, and boundless love of my husband and our nutty little girls, who make all of it worth doing. I’m happy to be stuck with you. (Get it?)