BLACK BARN APIARY - MAIN PRAIRIE

September has arrived at Black Barn Apiary, and it’s been a different kind of summer here. We’ve had plenty of rain, stretches of heat, and some drought-like conditions. Through it all, the prairie continues to provide forage, and the bees are busy bringing in goldenrod and aster pollen and nectar. This late-season honey I traditionally reserve for the bees. 

We have been thinking about getting the bees through winter since we first installed the colonies in the Spring. Preparing bees for winter is a year-round process, and now is an especially important time to make sure they have the food and support they need for the months ahead.

Preparing for Gift-Giving Season

While the bees are getting ready for winter, we’re preparing for the major gift-giving season. We’ve created a new Look Book with ideas for holiday and corporate gifting, and we’re reaching out to clients to learn which honeys they may want to share this year. We start early because small-batch production takes time. Right now, we’re running low on our Honey for Dogs and Their Humans, so we’ll be making more next week. We’re also reviewing each flavor and increasing production where needed. Our honeys are made in three to four gallon batches. Working in small quantities allows us to maintain careful quality control and create the superior product our customers have come to expect from Black Barn Apiary.

Introducing Buckthorn Honey

And finally, we introduced a new varietal clear honey:
Buckthorn. It’s delicious—and hard to find. Buckthorn honey has a distinctive flavor that makes it a wonderful addition to the Black Barn Apiary collection. We’re excited to share it with you this fall.

As September unfolds, the bees are preparing for winter and we are preparing for the gifting season. There’s always plenty to do and plenty to look forward to.

 —Love, Barbara