Welcome to Sun Mountain Apiary 2025
The odds of a white Christmas certainly took a big boost this week. We are seeing lights and decorations going up all around and our store is likewise now fully in the “holiday mode.” The beekeepers taking part in “Honeys of the Valley” have also greatly added to the seasonal spirit of the store with holiday gift baskets, some with free custom honey dippers and new festive decorations of their own.
What better place to get that unique gift for someone in your office, relative, mailperson, or neighbor that just helped shovel your walk? From pure beeswax candles to beeswax lotion bars for chapped hands to nine different honey producers to provide a sampler from, we have you covered! Unique, local gifts that support local agribusinesses is a winner in most everyone’s book. To make it easier than ever, from now until Christmas we will provide FREE GIFT BAGS with every purchase (as long as supplies last). Sales of our own honey, and Honeys of the Valley beekeeper's honey has been strong. We are anticipating that we will be sold out at the end of the month. Linda has also depleted the last of this year’s wax, so candle production has ceased. These make great stocking stuffers and gifts, so if you want them, don’t wait. Bee Trivia: In our last newsletter we talked about the fact that back at the turn of the 20th Century, New York State was able to boast of being home to the three largest beekeepers in the world. E.W. Alexander of Delanson who we featured was one of them. Several folks wanted to know who the others were…. See images on the right side. Bee well! Bob Bob Muller Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper 
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Speaking of items that are popular this time of year, if you get chapped hands and finger “splits,” then you should try Linda’s very popular lotion bars. These all natural beeswax based bars will heal your hands faster than most over-the-counter remedies. They are available in both unscented and lavender. I keep one in my pickup and one on my nightstand and use them regularly. They make great stocking stuffers too at only $6 each.
"I tried absolutely everything to help with my chronic chapped fingers. Your lotion bars have been the BEST BY FAR and one of the few products which actually helps! Thank you!" - K. Abbate, Colonie
Several folks wanted to know who the others were….
Captain J.E. Hetherington was from Cherry Valley, NY. He started beekeeping at a very young age, but joined the Union Army as a sharpshooter. He was severely wounded twice and mustered out as Captain. After a couple year recovery from his wounds, he resumed beekeeping. At his peak he oversaw between 2,500 and 3,000 colonies. Interestingly, most of his honey was exported to England which was unheard of up until that time. He was also friends with and a neighbor of Moses Quimby (inventor of the bee smoker and a multitude of bee equipment still used today). Hetherington was also an inventor and developed the concept of wired foundation and using comb beeswax foundation both of which are commonly used today.
Moving further west, we have William Coggshell of Groton in Tompkins County. He also ran about 3,000 colonies and pioneered the use of “out yards” where bees were placed where the crops were rather than in one large apiary near his home. This not only helped the crops, but the bees had plentiful nectar just outside the yard so had minimal flying to do to get it. The most common crop he had "out yards" in? Buckwheat.
All three of these men were hardworking, smart and talented beekeepers, but there were other beekeepers around the country that also shared these talents. What do you think was the one thing that they also had in common that allowed these three here in NY to be the world’s largest?? Shoot us an email with your ideas! We will answer in the next email.
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In 2020 we went through the testing and inspection process to become a “NY Grown and Certified Honey Producer.” While all claim their honey is pure, and bees are the best, we decided to back the claims up with the documentation and inspections that prove we have healthy hives, excellent sanitation in extraction, and nothing but pure, raw NY local honey.
Pure - Natural- Raw |
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Sun Mountain Apiary
127 Marcus Road Delanson, NY 12053 Bob Muller Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper [email protected] |
