Honey: Liquid Gold of the Prairie

By Kimberly Grist


A Sweet Hum in the Distance

Imagine a quiet summer afternoon in 1883. The prairie grass sways gently in the warm breeze, and the faint hum of honeybees resonates from a pioneer woman’s kitchen garden. For settlers who bravely faced the unknown West, a thriving beehive was more than just a pleasant sound; it was a beacon of sweetness in hard times, a source of healing for the sick, and a precious “liquid gold” for trading when supplies ran low.

Honey as Food: Sweetness in Lean Times

On the frontier, where sugar was a luxury found only at distant trading posts, pioneers discovered honey as the perfect substitute. They drizzled it over fresh cornbread or biscuits, stirred it into coffee, and used it to glaze wild game, transforming simple meals into flavorful dishes.

Honey not only enriched the flavor of baked goods but also kept them moist longer, a true advantage when baking was a rare occasion. Honey biscuits and gingerbread sweetened with honey, along with invigorating vinegar-honey “switchel,” became cherished staples that nourished both body and spirit during the demanding harvest days.

Honey as Medicine: A Pioneer’s Pharmacy

Honey was more than just a sweet treat; it served as a natural medicine. Pioneers used it as an antiseptic, applying it to cuts and burns to prevent infections. When mixed with vinegar or lemon, honey was taken to relieve coughs and soothe sore throats. Additionally, when combined with herbs, it helped ease upset stomachs.

Beeswax, another valuable product from the hive, was used as the base for salves and ointments, lip balms, and even poultices for aching joints.

Honey as Trade: Liquid Gold of the Prairie

 
On isolated homesteads, a jar of honey could be exchanged for eggs, flour, seeds, or the use of a plow horse. Those who had more hives than they needed often sold comb honey in nearby towns or to traveling peddlers. Beeswax was also valuable; it was used for making candles, sealing jars, waterproofing leather, and lubricating tools.

Challenges of Frontier Beekeeping

Keeping bees on the frontier came with challenges:

• Bears and skunks were relentless hive-raiders.
• Harsh winters posed a serious threat and could wipe out entire colonies if the hives weren’t insulated properly.
• In true pioneer spirit, settlers improvised and crafted hives from hollow logs, straw skeps, or rough wooden boxes, skills they learned from their neighbors or books brought from the East.

Hard work? Absolutely, but the rewards were sweet, medicinal, and profitable. A case in point, check out the historically inspired recipe below for Honey Gingerbread. A close authentic parallel for this recipe would be Amelia Simmons’ 1796 recipe in American Cookery, which includes honey, sour milk, egg, spices, and flour.

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Fans of historical romance set in the late 19th century will enjoy stories combining History, Humor, and Romance with an emphasis on Faith, Friends, and Good Clean Fun.

Find out what a beekeeper has to do with it!


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Author Kimberly Grist
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