5 local apiaries for fresh, sustainable honey in CT

Beekeeping is no easy task, according to Norwalk native Andrew Cote. His family has been in the beekeeping business since the 1800s. He's so familiar with the subject, he wrote the book on it. "Honey and Venom: Confessions of an Urban Beekeeper" tells the story of Cote's daily bee adventures throughout Connecticut and New York City, where he maintains apiaries around of some of New York's most iconic sites and neighborhoods, including Central Park, The Highline and Union Square. But Cote isn't the only Connecticut-based beekeeper. There are plenty of beekeepers across the state ranging from hobbyists to professionals, mean there are plenty of options for Nutmeggers looking to access fresh, local honey that's sustainable and affordable. Read on for five Connecticut apiaries making local honey, selling apiary equipment, offering beekeeping classes and more. Andrew’s Honey is an urban honey company started by Andrew Cote, Cote's father, a Norwalk firefighter, kept honeybees in the family’s backyard. Cote helped to take care of the bees. Now, he’s the founder of the New York City Beekeepers Association, the executive director of his family’s nonprofit Bees Without Borders and is known for his urban beekeeping work. Andrew’s Honey makes its honey from bees housed in urban rooftop apiaries. In New York City, the honey is sold at the Union Square Greenmarket, alongside the website's online shop. The apiary also offers services like “bee wrangling,” swarm removal, commercials and urban honey tours. This Farmington apiary began as a wedding gift, according to the Jones Apiaries website. Tom and Becky Jones were gifted a beehive as a wedding present in 1972. By the year 2000, the couple had more than 200 hives. SInce then, the Joneses have served in roles with the CT Beekeepers Association and the Eastern Apiculture Society of North America. Jones Apiaries sells beekeeping wares, including its own nucleus colonies. The website says colonies should be available beginning in May. Full Bloom Apiaries in Franklin currently sells products at 27 retail locations in Connecticut and Rhode Island where customers can buy the apiary’s honey varieties. The apiary was established in 2004 with 100 colonies, according to its website, and now runs with 500 honey production colonies and 400 nucleus colonies. Full Bloom also offers bees wax along with queens and nucleus colonies for people looking to start their own apiaries. According to its website, Stonewall Apiary has 350 colonies in Eastern Connecticut. The apiary sells honey, creamed honey, honeycomb, chunk honey and beeswax products like honey butter, candles, wood polish and hand salve. People interested in doing their own beekeeping can also purchase beekeeping equipment and take beekeeping classes at the apiary. Classes are offered in-person at the apiary or virtually, according to the website, with topics such as "getting started," "the honeybee," "pests and diseases" and "odds and ends." This Fairfield apiary is a homegrown operation, run out of the home of two farmers. Their yard is dotted with colorful bee boxes in hues of blue, orange and yellow. The apiary sells its honey in many sizes, including a 60-pound pail, along with beeswax candles and hand-made bird houses. The apiary also offers consultations, swarm removal and an adopt-a-hive service.

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