Frequently Asked Questions
Do you Sell Bulk (or wholesale) honey?
Unfortunately, we do not. We are small, family-owned, hobbyist beekeepers that do not produce enough honey to support bulk or wholesale options.
Where can I buy your honey?
is your honey local?
Local honey is considered anything produced within 50 miles of your location. The closer the better, of course, as the honey produced closer to home is more likely to contains bits of pollen and nectar from plants that occur near you.
Is your honey raw?
Fern Hill Apiary honey is completely raw. Often times the terms raw and pure are used synonymously, but there is a difference. Raw honey is minimally processed (to remove debris), contains only honey, and is not heated in any way.
Would you consider keeping hives on my property?
At this time, we are not entertaining offers to house colonies on property we do not own. We appreciate the opportunity and interest in housing colonies at nearly locations but have found over the years that we are able to tend to the colonies more readily when they are under our watchful eye at home. We are more easily able to recognize if there is an issue that needs attention when the colonies are close-by.
I'd like to get into Beekeeping - how do i get started?
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby with a steep learning curve. The best way to get started in beekeeping is to join a local bee club and take a beginner beekeeping class. These classes begin in February each year and fill up quickly. You will have the opportunity to meet other students, acquire a mentor, and order package/nuc bees through the class - starting you off on the right foot as you begin learning (and keeping) these amazing creatures.
how many bees do you have?
This is a common question that is best answered with the number of colonies that we manage. Currently we usually maintain between 10-25 colonies depending on the time of year. Each colony's population will also change throughout the year ranging from as few as a couple thousand bees during winter to approximately 80,000 during peak summer months.
What is honey?
Oxford Dictionary states that honey is "a sticky yellowish-brown fluid made by bees... from nectar collected from flowers." However, honey can easily be adulterated by feeding/offering bees high fructose corn syrup which results in a similar product but is not 'true honey'. Be sure to ask your keeper if they keep feeders on the colonies during a nectar flow (when flowers are in bloom).
reading the label - What's the difference between the terms honey "made in" vs "bottled in"?
Honey made in Marshall, VA (e.g., ours) is completely sourced from hives we manage. If you read a label that says "bottled in" that does not mean that the honey came from any local apiary to the location listed; it could be a mixture of several sources with unclear origins (to the consumer). Our recommendation - even if you don't get your honey from us, know your beekeeper and ask questions about how they manage their colonies and harvest their honey.