Sara Devetak, with the help of her husband Pavel, is a farmer in San Michele del Carso. Sara didn’t always know that this would be her profession; she studied languages at university. She returned to the Karst — and to the bees — thanks to her grandfather, a farmer passionate about nature who taught her not to rush, to be patient, and to put passion into everything. “Leave something for tomorrow,” he used to tell her. That phrase has become a work philosophy.
The marasca (prunus mahaleb) — the wild cherry of the Karst — produces a rare nectar with an unmistakable aromatic profile, which the bees collect during the brief spring flowering. The result is a honey, a Slow Food Presidium, that comes from a plant that grows in the Karst territory. If the spring is cold and rainy, the flowering fails and the honey is not produced. This is not a supermarket shelf. Accepting that not all honey varieties are available every year is the only way to truly respect the rhythms of nature.
Sara and Pavel’s bees are raised in a wild territory free from intensive farming where no chemicals are used. Their task is to create the ideal conditions so they are healthy and can fly over a clean territory. The hives are never subjected to practices that compromise the well-being of the colonies. The bees are not robbed of their honey unless there is enough for them first. This approach has a meaning that goes beyond production: bees are precise indicators of an ecosystem’s health. If the bees are well, the Karst is well.
Behind this project is a family history spanning more than 150 years. Since 1870, her family has managed a restaurant and a traditional inn, working in synergy with the seasons, with nature, and with all the products it provides. Today, four sisters, together with their parents, strive to carry forward the traditions and culture of this territory. When you open a jar of their honey, Sara says, an entire territory is released. Inside is their very essence: family history, dedication, and care. As well as pure food, without thickeners or preservatives.
