THE BEE’S KNEES Inspired by bees and healing plants, Lulu has created a flourishing business with a natural, wholesome approach story and pictures katrine anker-nilssen lulu Edy-Roderick is warm and welcoming ‘hen | vst her St Helier home — boasting a beautiful view of Giba Gorge. Lulu shares her lovely home with husband Keith, a drum maker and sculptor she met at a drumming circle at Virginia Beach many moons ago. “We are both djembe ‘drummers and share love for music. We also love making, repurposing and creating things. When we are in nature, be it gardening, walking or siting having a cup of ta outside together, tis food for our souls,” smiles Lulu Growing up in Greyvle, Lulu attended George Campbell School of Technology. "There were about eight gis in our entire standard, amongst 200 boys,” she laughs. *! enjoyed ry schooling career, it insiled a confidence in my life “Discovering myself only came about after school. started working atthe Durban Botanic Gardens, the oldest Each hee has its purpose and task. - Cans ttc antAn weap They are one organism, all working Li, towards their survival = surviving botanic gardens in Aca, and was introduced to 0 many aspects of nature,” says Lulu. “My time there has iguided me to become an incvidual whose fet are firmly earthed, and provided me with the experience to nurture ity love for all things naturally wid.” When Lulu’s spirit became restless, she knew she needed a shift in lie, “In 2011 | attended a bee keeping course atthe Botanic Gardens by Jenny Cullinan,” explains Lulu, "Ym so inspired by bees, the order and eiciency that takes place within the colony is sornething to be admired, she says. “Each bee has its purpose and task. They are one ‘organism, all working toward their survival.” After a few years of geting to understand bees beter, Lulu began to experiment making tinctures, salves and balms in RIGHT: Lubes’ rang of rol ae avalble inmary cal stops. suchas Te 22 www thecrestontine.co.za2015. "had also noticed plans growing naturally within ‘ur homestead and started foraging, bringing them home to assess their benefits and find aut how | could utilise the! healing ables.” And tis is how Lulubee was bom. lube has been an amazing journey, every step a learning curve which has expanded my knowledge,” says Lulu, adding thatthe Lulubee range has recently grown from skin-health products to include reusable beeswax food and bread wraps, ‘With a natural and wholesome approach, Nourshed by Nature fs Lulubee's ethos. Mindtul bee-keeping practices as ‘wall as foraging plants and utilising nature's healing ability Isat the core of everything created. “Integy extends to our packaging, and | am always looking at ways and means to iminish our waste," adds Lulu "We make botanical plant ois from the seeds, lowers, leaves and stems of the plans, The plants are dried and placed in a cartier ol after which they release the fatty acids and minerals. Our herbal infusions are prepared slowly and genty, with as much care to ensure that the plants properties are uncompromised. The mix of cis and plans goes through an extraction proces, after which we compost the plant material and ‘are left with a mineral ich ci." explains Lulu, “Our reusable wraps are made ABOVE: Buin wi ety “one of Lu beh. INSET: lau and Ket with tinbr wo On. BELOW LEFT: Forgjiag Louis many eag pats. ‘sich sNasurtum,Pennyvat and Cope snows, BELOW RIGHT: Inmorte, ee of pants Lala esi her pout ‘rom 100% cotton, beeswax and tree resin, plant based hand-dyed." “I really hope to see Lulubee wraps usec In every household and become a necessity 2s a natural fod storage solution,” says Lulu, “And | want my business to be sustainable and bring with it flexibility and time to continue to do the things | enjoy the most.° Raising people's awareness around the importance of bees and our ‘alationship with them as well a plants, is also part of Lulu’ focus. You can find Lulubee in a numberof real stores from Durban to East London, and at markets in and around Durban, * Pworntueecoze KE LulbeeSKinteath NOVEMBER 2018 23