It's not beewashing, but beekeeping history.
Deanna B. Narveson reports in the Mankato Free Press article, Historic Hofmann Apiaries buzzing to become hive of honey bee education:
The Hofmann Apiaries was once one of the largest honey producers in Minnesota with 1,000 bee colonies. Beekeeping practices developed by the Hofmann family left its mark on America.
The century-old farm became only the second apiary ever to land on the National Register of Historic places just over a year ago. Now the SMSQ Architects of Northfield are hammering out plans with the Waseca Historical Society to transform the long dormant honey farm into a museum and educational center that will teach about beekeeping.
"When my dad and grandfather had it, the place looked like a park and I'm my dad's kid," said part owner Larry Hofmann, looking out at the farm's green lawns. All of the farm's buildings are still standing, but honey hasn't been made there since the 1980s.
For the last few years, as the Historical Society worked to get the grants needed to start the restoration process for the farm, Hofmann and his wife, Jan, have been cleaning and preparing the land. . . .
Standing in the dusty beeswax rendering building, the couple envisions an education center, with new flooring and insulation where school groups and visitors can learn about bees and honey. They think it's especially important with the decline of U.S. bees in recent years.
They hope to open up some of the honey houses' operations too, to allow hobby beekeepers an easy place to extract honey from their colonies.
"Education is really a huge part of this whole deal. That's what it's about," said Larry Hofmann. "We would like to encourage people to start keeping bees who would not otherwise."
The full restoration is estimated to cost more than $100,000 according to the Historical Society, but the group is raising money. A state grant paid for the architect's plans. . . .
Learn more about the project at the Hofmann Apiaries at the organization's website.
Photo: The Hofmann Apiary in its heyday.
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