Market Focus: Norm's Apiary Brings Fresh Honey

There are many vendors at the who come from right nearby the neighborhood.

But Norm DeYoung and his son, David, of Norm's Apiary traveled quite a bit of distance to offer their homemade honey, beeswax lip balm and hand cream at the weekly market at the Oak Forest Farmers Market in the  parking lot, 15601 S. Central Ave. They run their business in Beetown, Wis.

They didn't bring the bees — this time.

The duo has set up at the market for the duration of the summer. They spoke to Patch about the family's legacy and ties to the community.

Oak Forest Patch: What do you make and what do you sell?

Norm: Everything is organic. We make honey, lip balm and hand cream. We also offer popcorn, snow cones and lemonade when it's hot.

I also call the business Norm's Vented Bee Hiver Cover because I invented the cover we use. (A beehive cover is used to keep a beehive cooler in hot climates to increase honey production.)

Oak Forest Patch: What is your connection to this community?

Norm: My father made honey for 60 or 70 years and he used to live in Oak Lawn. We've been in other farmers markets and when we were at the one in Evergreen Park, someone asked us if we would come to this one.

Oak Forest Patch: So this is a family business?

David: Yes, we've been coming to different farmers markets for 16 years. I'm the oldest of seven children.

Contact the DeYoungs about their honey products at (608) 794-2497.  You can also find them for the duration of the Farmer's Market every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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