Q: How can I buy your honey?
A: We are currently only selling in-person at our local markets. The schedule is available here – Market Dates & Locations.
Q: What type of containers do you use?
A: Glass containers with plastisol-coated metal lids. We chose glass because it’s infinitely recyclable, and we’ll even give you a 50 cent discount on your next purchase for returning the jar to us for reuse! We’ve made an effort to reduce the use of plastic containers in our home lives and are making a stand with our business too. Most of the plastic that you put in your recycling bin ends up incinerated or in a landfill anyway, and it’s not reclaimable in the same way as glass. Save the bees by opting against plastic, relying less on the fossil fuels used to create it, and making the world just a little better.
Q: Can local honey help my seasonal allergies?
A: Unlikely. Scientific studies (YEAH SCIENCE!) have repeatedly shown that the amount of pollen contained in honey isn’t enough to desensitize a person from their seasonal allergies. While there is a small amount of pollen in raw, local honey, (typically less than .4%) it’s not a known amount or source – allergy shots have a known amount of a specific allergen that progressively increases to build up your tolerance to the allergen. Also, most seasonal allergies are usually the result of wind pollinated plants which are generally not plants bees pollinate, so it shows up in very trace amounts in honey. Pollen from say, dandelions or maple trees will show up in honey in very small amounts, more so than pollen from wind pollinated plants, but it’s still not enough to cause allergen desensitization. That all said, even though science hasn’t been able to prove that raw honey helps stop allergies, it has been studied as an effective cough suppressant, so it may help to alleviate symptoms.
Q: What about allergens in the processing or honey extraction area?
A: The processing facility also handles tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, dairy, and eggs. No other food production/processing happens while honey is being extracted, and every effort is made to reduce the risk of cross contamination. We use nitrile gloves instead of latex.
Q: Where are your bee hives located?
A: The hives (14 of them as of 2022) are located in Kimberton, Phoenixville borough, East Vincent, and East Pikeland. Honey bees have about a 3-5 mile forage area which covers the entirety of Phoenixville! Bees have been known to forage even further than that for a good source of nectar or pollen, but typically stay in that range.
Q: Is your honey organic?
A: No. Unfortunately, we cannot control where the bees go when they leave the hive, nor can we control what kinds of chemicals people use on their properties. The property owners where the hives are located are committed to having a pesticide/fertilizer/herbicide free environment, and we would like to encourage everyone to ditch the chemicals and learn to love those precious, free flowers! Dandelions and clover are not the enemy and are important food sources for bees, and they contribute nectar to the honey we sell. Just think, nectar from clover growing in your back yard could end up in our honey, and it doesn’t get more local than that!
Q: Do you wholesale?
A: No. We’re a very small producer and don’t have the volume to provide large quantities of honey for wholesale or custom orders (weddings, showers, etc), however we’re happy to refer you to our local beekeeper friends who do!
Q: Can I give honey to my infant?
A: Giving honey to a child under 1 year of age is not recommended. Because bees are foraging in the wild and botulism spores exist in nature (in soil/sediment worldwide), it’s possible that there can be botulism spores in honey. This does NOT mean the honey is contaminated. The spores sometimes found in honey are harmless to children and adults with fully-developed immune and digestive systems, but can make babies sick. Even pasteurized/cooked/heated honey can still contain spores, so the best way to keep your infant safe is to not feed them honey until after they’re 12 months old.