Community Corner

Farmers Market Vendor Spotlight: Norm's Apiary

Norm's bees are sitting on honey -- and lots of it.

Every Wednesday throughout the summer, Norm DeYoung brings his honey down from Beetown, WI, to sell to old friends and neighbors at the Oak Lawn Farmers Market.

You might say that honey runs through his genes.

“My father was the very first beekeeper in Oak Lawn,” Norm said. “Every time someone got a swarm, the police would call my father.”

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Right now the bees at Norm’s Apiary are sitting on honey – 120 hives bursting at the honeycomb with dandelion and wild apple honey.

“Dandelion is their first honey flow in the springtime,” Norm said.

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The price of honey has been going sky high because of a virus that’s infected the U.S. bee population.

“It sucks the juice right out them,” Norm said, his hands folded comfortably on his ample belly as he dispenses bee wisdom.

Norm says he’s kept the prices of his honey down. His honey ranges in price at the Oak Lawn Farmer’s Market from $5 for a one-pound jar up to $12 for a three-pound jar. He also sells honey candy, made with honey from his bee farm. It will cure a sore throat.

In addition to being the son of the village’s first beekeeper, Norm was a member of Oak Lawn Community High School’s second graduating class in 1955.

He’s also a second cousin of Styx lead singer Dennis DeYoung.

“We know of each other,” Norm said. “He’s a multi-millionaire you know.”

Norm can’t recall if he ever gave Dennis some of his honey. “My other son might have,” he said.

Norm is at the Oak Lawn Farmers Market at Cook and Dumke Drive near village hall every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the week, he visits other Southland farmers markets, including Evergreen Park, Tinley Park and Mokena.

So if you need some honey, spend an extra dollar or two on some of Norm’s at the farmers market rather than the stuff at the supermarket that isn’t nearly as sweet and where you don’t know where it came from.

And Dennis, if you happen to be in Oak Lawn on Wednesday this summer, stop by the farmers market and see your cousin Norm for some honey. You're a multi-millionaire. I think you can afford it.


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