OTucked away in the sleepy village of Camalote, just five kilometers west of Belmopan, in the Cayo District, is the charming “Farmed to Perfection“, where magical things happen. The farm is one happy place, from harvesting honey and healthy products from the beehive to tilapia pools and gardens of bright flowers and herbs for the bees, rabbits, chickens, hogs, sheep, a few dogs and cats, and even guinea pigs.

Shalwa and Desmond Leslie run the family farm, which began after Shalwa attended a beekeeper training session in December 2021. The Child Development Foundation sponsored the one-of-a-kind program through the government of Belize, and now Shalwa is one of the few female beekeepers in the country. After completing the training, she was to receive bees and materials to start her apiary. Eager to get started, she already had ten hives established with wild bees when the supplies arrived a few months later.

Shalwa explained that beekeeping is an endless learning experience and that her products are not limited to honey. “There’s a lot to learn about having bees and losing hives. It’s how you learn from your errors; it is so intricate. I realized that the hive has many by-products inside, and I was amazed by that. I wondered why other beekeepers didn’t do something with this. Why didn’t they use the propolis (a mixture of beeswax and other oils and resins collected by bees and used in beehive construction) to create products using the wax and not just sell honey in a bottle? So, that’s why I created products to show Belize that there is so much more in the hive. We don’t create a product unless it is a by-product of the hive.”

“Pibil” the resident hog.

Once a beekeeper, Shalwa began farming, starting with pigs, a cow, and sheep, and eventually growing to where she is today. Her honey business evolved into a line of custom-made goods made from beehive byproducts, including lip balms, ointments, facial scrubs, wood butter, and antique wax polish, to name a few. Shalwa’s creativity didn’t end there; she has mastered a variety of delicious honey infused with coffee, garlic, anise, red pepper, spice seed, and cinnamon. She even sells honey from different areas with subtle flavors from that region. The “Belize in a Bottle” collection includes Taste of Camalote, Taste of Corozal, Taste of Cristo Rey, and Taste of Belize City. Of course, honey by the bottle or gallon is available too.

Their labor of love comes with a vision of sharing their skills of simple farming with other Belizeans, and plans are underway to turn their acreage into a Learning Center. “One of the main purposes is to encourage others, especially Belizeans, to know that you can grow their own food, start small, and learn, especially since I am from the city…through trial and error, I’ve discovered essential skills, shortcuts, and strategies to build a self-sustaining lifestyle. I’m passionate about sharing this knowledge and empowering people to create their own slice of homesteading heaven, no matter where they live,” Shalwa explains.

Butterfly Pea

Guests are invited to visit Farmed to Perfect, where their “Seed to Swarm Trail” grows within the warm embrace of the lush countryside. The onsite shop includes their honey products, yummy fruit syrups, beautiful purple Butterfly Pea Tea, and more. They are also constructing a visitor center and a new shop.

Farmed to Perfection products can also be purchased through their online WhatsApp shop at
https://wa.me/c/5016688949 . For more information, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/501grannybee or email [email protected].