About Us
Fern hill apiary is...
Locally-owned and family-operated, we are hobbyist beekeepers who have been dedicated to local honey production on our property in Marshall, Virginia since Spring of 2004. Starting with just three hives, we have grown consistently, now maintaining (on average) 12-15 colonies each year. Our property and hives are managed using invertebrate pest management, ensuring no chemicals are involved.
Our honey and beeswax products are sourced solely from our bees unless specifically noted on our products page (e.g. honey sticks). We take great care and pride in nurturing our bees and in the preparation and presentation of our products. We look forward to sharing our products with your family.
Benefits of local honey
According to the National Honey Board (www.honey.com), "research has shown that unlike most other sweeteners, honey contains small amounts of a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Raw honey, a rich source of carbohydrates, provides a quick source of energy. Honey's unique composition makes it an effective anti-microbial agent, useful for treating minor burns and scrapes, and for aiding the treatment of sore throats and other bacterial infections. Additionally, local honey production has been known to help reduce suffering from seasonal allergies. The recommended treatment is 1 tsp/day for 30 days before the onset of the bloom period of the offending plant. Furthermore, beeswax candles made from this natural product complement the benefits of honey, providing an eco-friendly, aromatic option for your home."
Our products...
Our wildflower honey, sourced from a variety of trees and plants in our region, is completely raw, preserving all of the beneficial properties of honey. This raw honey is not heated or blended, allowing you to enjoy the finest offerings from our local honey production. As it is not pasteurized, the National Honey Board advises against giving raw honey to children under one year old.
In addition to our rolled candles and wax blocks, our wax products are made entirely from beeswax sourced from our hives. Beeswax has a higher melting point than other types of wax, resulting in candles that burn longer. They are also considerably smokeless and dripless when burned in a draft-free area, while emitting a wonderfully fresh, natural aroma. The color variations are completely natural, with no additives used.
Availability of our products may vary by season and time of year; please contact us to confirm we have what you're looking for. You can find current pricing on our products page.
How our honey is produced
Once our bees have collected nectar and stored it in the cells within the hive, we ensure the moisture is reduced to the proper amount before capping it with wax for long-term storage. This process allows us to harvest any surplus stores of raw honey. The frames are then placed in an extractor, where the honey is spun out and drained into a bucket. After filtering to 400 microns to remove "bees' knees" and wax pieces (used in our beeswax candles), it's bottled and ready for you to enjoy this pure, simple, and authentic treat. You can watch how our local honey production works by watching this YouTube video from our July 2021 harvest.
Preserving your honey
Raw honey needs no refrigeration and does not go bad, as long as it is stored in an air-tight container preferably out of direct sunlight. It's important to avoid microwaving honey since this can destroy its beneficial properties. If your raw honey becomes solid (granulating is a natural aging process of raw honey), you can easily re-liquify it by placing it in a hot water bath overnight. This process can be repeated as needed.
How to order...
Visit us at the Warrenton Farmers Market during peak and holiday markets (late-April through December) or order online by submitting an order form on our products page. We thank you in advance for choosing Fern Hill Apiary and supporting a small, family-owned, local business.