HoneyBee Apothecary

The Saum and Dotson family friendship goes back to the year 2000, after Pete and Laurie Dotson defected from the state of Michigan to Groveport, Ohio. Steve and Jeannie Saum - a native Groveport, Ohioan and an Air Force Brat and OSU alumnus - had lived in Groveport for 20 years and were staunch OSU Buckeyes! Laurie Dotson and Jeannie Saum met at garden club while attending with mutual friends. But we really connected as couples one evening a few months later when we introduced husbands and stood in the Kroger grocery store aisle talking for an hour!One thing led to another, we started attending the same church, and then the same small group – and before we knew it, we were fast friends.

We had many things in common that bonded our friendship– high school sweethearts, Christian faith, kids the same age, gardening, serving, DIY projects, camping, hunting and an interest in sustainable living. We also had diverse interests and skills in a variety of pursuits that helped enrich our friendship and complement one another. Laurie – fine art, graphic arts media, cooking, encouragement, hospitality, prayer warrior; Peter – technology of all kinds, photography, vehicles and engines; organization and leadership; Steve – woodworking, creative thinking and ideas, a giving spirit, humor and prayer warrior; Jeannie – teaching and learning, research, crafts (knitting, sewing, crocheting, pattern making), problem solving, initiative and drive.

Over the last decade, we have supported one another through job losses, teenager rearing, church break-up, health problems, household and car repairs, the death of parents, and the general struggles of life.In 2007, we jointly bought 22 acres and a half- finished cabin, an hour south of Columbus. We’ve enjoyed working on the cabin together with the goal of making it self- sustaining and off the grid – complete with a “humanure” composting outhouse!

2010 was the year of the bees – the year that Steve’s long reverie about beekeeping came to reality. Both families got their first bee hives and started learning together to care for these incredible creatures and reap the benefits