Sled dogs and bees: at Husky Village we are also beekeepers

A mountain farm producing honey in the Alps

Husky Village is famous for its sled dogs – and it couldn’t be otherwise – but for some time now, the more than 60 Nordic-bred sled dogs are no longer the only animals housed at the facility in the upper Valtellina: in fact, they have been joined by hundreds of thousands of bees, thanks to our new beekeeping business. What is it all about? We tell about it in this article.

Why raise bees in the mountains?

We have been hearing about climate change for some time now. We are experiencing it firsthand, since even at our altitudes temperatures are higher, winters milder, and snowfall less frequent in spring and fall. The alpine nature around us is extremely precious to us and to our animals, so we try in every way to safeguard it and to contribute in our own small way to counter the effects of global warming. It is in this perspective that we have chosen to become beekeepers, or rather to say – given the context in which we operate – mountain beekeepers.

Bees are in fact indispensable pollinating insects for many plant species in the alpine environment, and as we know they are now endangered by human activity. So we, too, have decided to help save the bees by hosting 40 hives at Husky Village, for a total of about 500,000 insects: during the spring and summer, the bees are thus free to carry out their precious pollination task at an altitude of 1870 meters, feeding on the blooms of the area and thus guaranteeing the biodiversity of the local environment, while during the colder months they hibernate at lower altitudes, still in Valtellina.

Honey, mead, cupèta: the products of the Musher

In return for this hospitality in the upper Valtellina, the bees offer us their honey, which we gladly accept to make genuine, tasty, artisanal mountain products. Since they are born within our sleddog farm, we have named them after the Musher to give them an even more distinctive flavor:

• Musher’s Honey is a 100% Valtellina mountain honey produced from flowers of the Alps and pollen from the province of Sondrio. We produce two versions of it, both available in jars in the double size 500 g and 1 kg: chestnut honey, recognizable by its dark color, and mixed-flower honey, with its distinctive sweetness, ideal for pairing with cheese boards and for sweetening hot drinks, respectively;

• Musher’s Mead is an alcoholic beverage made from honey that is obtained from its fermentation, and consequently is prepared without alcohol, and is a delicate and refined digestive, as well as a perfect aperitif for any occasion. Again, there is a choice between chestnut mead and mixed-flower mead – the former more full-bodied, the latter sweeter – both in 500 ml bottles;

• the Musher’s Cupèta is our version of the typical Valtellina dessert made with honey, dried fruits such as nuts, cookies and wafers. It is a concentrate of energy and taste that is portentous for fighting cold and fatigue, but is happily eaten as a dessert at the end of a meal or as a snack at any time of the day: typically, after a sled ride with our dogs.

How and where to enjoy Husky Village’s honey products? At Husky Village, of course, where at the end of the sled or kart experience you can buy local honey, mead and cupèta, thus contributing to our sustainable project. We look forward to seeing you in Valdidentro, with our huskies and bees.

Learn more about the beekeeping activities at Husky Village