It wasn’t all about buying seeds at the annual Seedy Saturday event held at Sault College last weekend.
Vendors of different sorts were on hand, among them Jaana Aspegren of Hive Five Beeswax Products.
Jaana uses locally sourced beeswax, clarifies her own pine rosin, mixing the wax, rosin and jojoba oil to make and sell beeswax wraps, to be used as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap and ziplock bags.
They’re good for wrapping just about any type of food, except raw meat, Jaana said, speaking to SooToday.
“A lot of people are amazed by it. They think it's magic, but it’s been around for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used it,” Jaana said.
“The name Hive Five is catchy,” she said with a smile.
“I’m a positive person, so when I make a sale I usually try to give customers a high five and thank them for doing their environmentally-friendly part.”
Jaana also sells do-it-yourself kits which come with instructions.
Hive Five products are available for purchase through her Facebook page or through email
She works from home, stating she’s willing to deliver purchased beeswax wraps to customers.
Jaana, a Goulais native and Bawating Collegiate graduate, worked at the popular Canadian Carver gift shop on Highway 17 north of the Sault before studying environmental toxicology at the University of Guelph, later working for Algoma Energy Solutions (which built solar farms across Ontario).
She moved back to the Sault from Guelph three years ago.
“Since then I’ve wanted to have a small home-based business while taking care of my child, so I started Hive Five.”
“I'm really into eco-friendly things, always looking out for the environment, and this really piqued my interest.”
“I’m not looking to make a lot of money. It’s more of an awareness and feel good aspect for me, because I work a side job,” Jaana said, though she added sales have been good, the curious visiting her booth Saturday and purchasing her beeswax wraps.
“I think products like this are important because we have to teach our generation, and generations to come, better practices, to promote awareness of how much we’re consuming every day and to promote products that are going to last a longer time and help lessen our impact on the earth.”