Jappi Changes

Will Stripp and Belly Button Honey

How has the encounter with Jappi Jalapeño changed me?

Q&A with Will Stripp, lawyer, beekeeper, jalapeño grower

CONNECTING TO WHAT’S IMPORTANT

I would say it has given life new meaning. Gardening connects you to the earth. Beekeeping connects you to the sky. And then you get the reward of being able to consume what you grow. You're not going to a store to buy it - you're creating the stuff yourself. And by putting yourself in touch with the soil, you begin to realize what life is all about, the importance of it.

The bees have been around for millions of years.And they are essential for the survival of our gardens and for our produce, because they do the pollination. If we didn't have bees, we wouldn't have crops. That includes orchards and just normal gardening.

BEE YOURSELF

I actually got involved with bees after beginning to grown jalapeños — for the importance of the bees to my garden. Not just for gardening, but for all of the different agriculture here like orchards growing apples, peaches, pears. And they are also necessary for the pollination of my chiles.

bees under the belly button mesa