((These past weeks have witnessed feverish activity in the LOTR sim as all have been introduced to the AURA farming system, expertly organized and inspired by Sir Kavarek and Sir Borelek. We have all marveled as front and back lawns have been converted to produce crops, mill grains, harvest produce and in my own case expand upon the RP as a beekeeper. Truly an amazing undertaking, leading Mr. Dante of 'Serenity WolfPack Farms' to comment when asked about an empty water cart vendor "The LOTR folks have bought me out!" It's great fun, and hats off to the enthusiastic response by all those taking part. So I am taking a pause from watering bee hives (often twice a day) to write a little about the RP it affords, having already noticed how it leads to more fun interaction with others.

- Beedle Beedit playing Bilbo Baggins))

From the Hobbiton Herald...

After a chilly winter and dry days you can tell Spring is upon us, as shire crops are sprouting, thanks to the recent rains and the adoption of the AURA farming cooperative for harvesting and storage.

There has been a fury of activity the past few weeks as Mr. Kavarek, the dwarf, has organized others into a cooperative to provide the goods and services needed to keep everyone fed in Middle Earth. Many trips were made to the local supplier, ‘Serenity Wolfpack Farms’ to obtain the necessary seeds and equipment to build a robust Farming community supplying those eagerly awaiting their produce, such as Hobbitons Green Dragon Inn.

A trip to the Green Dragon will find Miss Angelica hard at work any given day over her ovens in food preparation for the community. She depends on the farmers of Hobbiton to produce the grains, greens and goods needed for her recipes. Which of course includes honey for her breads, sweets and the making of mead. ((A thanks to her for all her hard and diligent work!))

This past week, she took delivery of Mr. Bumble’s first honey of the season from the Beeswing Farms.

Miss Angelica was waiting its arrival on the front porch of the Green Dragon, when a honey cart being driven by Master (Bilbo) Baggins pulled up with crates filled with jars of honey.

Doffing his hat with a ‘Good day Miss Angelica!’ she responded,

“Oh Master Baggins you have arrived with the honey order!!!!"

“Yes I am helping out my nephew, where would you like it Miss Angelica?” he responded, lifting one of the crates off the back of the wagon and following her to the kitchen.

“You can slide it in with veggies.” She replied pointing to an open spot near the carrots. After sliding the crate into position, Master Baggins made a note in his ledger,

“That’s 12 jars of Beeswing Farms finest honey. It should last you a spell, in the making of cakes, sweets and mead, but should you run short, I can stop by and refill your order!"

"Perfect” Miss Angelica responded, “When the flour arrives I will be able to start making new treats. Honey brings joy to people. It is holistic, it's sweet, and people love honey bread and other treats."

“Happy bees make happy honey" said Master Baggins, "and Mr. Bumbles bees are the happiest from Bywater to Bree.”

"Oh so the bees must be happy!" asked Miss Angelica.

"Oh my yes!" responded Master Baggins. "If they aren’t happy you 'll know it when you get the wrong end of their business if you knows what I means."

Miss Angelica giggles, "I rather not find out about that end of it. Or I would run for the lake! Have yourself a glass of Elven wine. It arrived from the vineyards in Rivendell,"

Maybe it was the wine, but it got Master Baggins wishing he had a fiddle so he could sing Mr. Bumble's 'HONEY SONG.'

Before Miss Angelica could talk him out of it, the song began…

THE HONEY SONG

Sing hey for honey natures treat

Full of sunshine and so sweet

Bake the cookies, ice the cakes

Buy what Mr Bumbles makes!

It makes the mead to make us merry

So tend the garden, plant the berry

Let the bees do what it takes

Buy what Mr Bumbles makes!

By the spoon or by the jar

Buy it here, don’t go too far

Bees all say beware of fakes

Buy what Mr Bumbles makes!

It’s good for you and good for tea

It’s good for homemade remedy

A spoonful a day is all it takes

Buy what Mr Bumbles makes!

Keep Bees buzzing in the hive

Keep flowers blooming and alive

Do your part for goodness sakes

Buy what Mr Bumbles makes!

Beeswing Farms is now producing honey, so should you need any for sweets, tea or mead please place your order with Mr. Bumbles Beeswing!

(pictured above smoking the beehive to calm his bees so the honey can be collected)