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Times Publishing Co. Jun 14, 2002
SWEET INTERBAY BUZZ: If you miss the honey-for-sale road sign at Interbay
and MacDill, then just wait until a worker bee goes streaking by. Chances
are it's headed back to nearby 6101 S Second St. Tucked away on this
Ballast Point cul de sac is a front yard honey stand shaded by an
Australian pine.
Now you've found Marion Lambert's place.
Behind the 1922 frame house is a 5-acre farm that dates to before the
Great War. Sharing space with a yearling cow, three calves, three goats, a
chicken coop and a pot bellied pig are several hundred thousand bees.
While Lambert shows off their hives, an ignorant greenhorn asks if he ever
gets stung. He has a standard sarcastic reply.
"No, I've got a great relationship with all of them. Call 'em by name.
There's Sarah. That's Emily. And there goes Molly."
Joshing aside, Lambert said he makes most of his income from the bees'
produce. Wax is sold to cosmetics companies. He wholesales most of the
honey in bakery grade to buyers in north Florida. The remaining fruits of
Molly and company's labor he further distills to retail quality and sells
directly. Lambert says his honey stand will sell six or seven 55-gallon
drums of honey a year.
Customers can ring the old Virginia iron bell next to the stand for
assistance. But it's primarily a self service stand. There's a money slot
and note reminding you of the honor system. Lambert's had to deal with
pilferers, but he stressed, "They are by far the exception. People are
basically honest."
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