Environmental Stewardship ‘n’ Sustainability

An Excerpt from “Soil Conservation”:

From the Administrator: Decade for people and wildlife; ‘For one thing, we have developed deep national concerns over the pollution of our water, air, soil--yes, even our plants and animals--with the waste products of our own 'civilization.' One of the most hopeful signs of the times, as an aid to solving these problems, is the growing realization that human beings, like wildlife, are subject to the laws of nature.

This is why I believe we may be entering on a new decade for wildlife as we strive to meet people's needs and desires more adequately. Our efforts to maintain a clean, healthy, and beautiful environment for ourselves are bound to produce an improved environment for wildlife. And we are beginning to realize that just as wildlife needs our help, we, in turn, need the benefits that come from healthy, plentiful populations of wildlife...

This realization that all of our resources, including wildlife, are part of a complex ecological pattern is reflected in the increased emphasis being placed on comprehensive planning at all levels of government...

~Soil Conservation, Volumes 34-35 Page 191,

1968-1970 Edition

Local and Plant Matters…

We began Bee’s Knees ‘n’ Knits in effort to advocate for our fellow farmers and rural ranchers by offering intentionally crafted Montana made products, emphasizing the use of local ingredients and materials; a means of giving back to those who help rely on and contribute to our local community. To further our reach, we became directors of our seasonal market series, Village Markets, and shop keeps of Bee’s Knees Mercantile (closed 2024) to make bridge the gap between small-scale farmers, artisans, and conscious consumers.

Bee’s Knees ‘n’ Knits is a local small business owned by Kassie Dawn and Kyle Dean, born and raised in Bigfork, Montana. Together we embrace the sustainable lifestyle of slow fashion, herbal remedies, and nearly forgotten trades by offering handcrafted gifts and goods from our homestead. Our Montana made products are mindfully curated in small batches using wool, blooms, beeswax, and bit inbetween with an emphasis on local ingredients and materials. 

One of our biggest values is to shop, share, and support local, not only as a business, but in our daily lives too. We choose to honor the Treasure State by nourishing the integrity of the land, animals, and people of Montana from which we were raised. For example, much of our products, such as our collection of herbal remedies and woolen goods, are directly impacted by seasonality of the ingredients and materials, which is why they are curated in small batches in limited availability. We honor the harvest of the plants and beeswax, as well as the shearing of the sheep that we source raw materials from in order to encourage the success of future generations. By localizing our supply chain, we help build consumer confidence and awareness, as well as preserve traditional art and trades (see our Local Resources page).

Why? We believe it's important to lead the way for sustainability by contributing to a circular economy, as well as fund local organizations that reflect our values to make a broader impact. A circular economy is based on the idea of regeneration, reducing waste and pollution, and keeping value in products that are made to last or be repaired and reused. Montana's rich agricultural background allows us to gain access to these resources and put them to good use, the way they are intended. We believe we can revive the spirit of community by guiding immersive workshops and sharing our homesteading skills, as well as direct markets, and stock locally curated gift and goods at our brick and mortar to enrich our community both socially and economically. When supporting our business, you are supporting those before us.