Atwood Apiaries

Atwood Apiaries

Where?

The Atwood Apiary is located in a tiny backyard in Ashland, Massachusetts.  All honey that we sell comes from our hives and is bottled on-site.

Who?

The Atwood family is very busy, but always finds time to care for the bees and garden.

Our Management Style

Honey bees need our help.  There is a constant battle against the invasive Varroa mite.  On the front lines is the beekeeper who is responsible to keep the colonies healthy.  We practice Integrated Pest Management techniques and treat with natural and organic certified products whenever possible.  Our mantra is: if a chemical can’t be found in nature, we don’t want it in our hives.

Our Honey

We extract our honey and coarsely strain to remove bits of wax. From there it is allowed to settle for a bit, then poured into jars. We do not heat it for processing or run it through filters which would strip it of traces of pollen.

Nectar

Our bees forage on a variety of flowers in the area. Trees, neighbors’ gardens, roadside weeds, and wildflowers in nearby fields all provide nectar which they make into a rich and complex tasting honey. We harvest at different times of the year and do not blend batches of honey like large operations do. This means our honey can vary considerably from jar to jar. Sometimes it is very light and clear, sometimes cloudy, sometimes a dark amber.

What is Crystallization?

All natural honey will crystalize. Some within a week of harvesting, some after many years. Raw, unfiltered honey will often crystalize faster because the tiny grains of pollen and wax provide a place for the crystals to grow. Crystalized honey is not bad! In fact it is great to spread on toast or put in tea, and will not taste any different. It can be kept this way indefinitely. If you prefer, you can make your honey liquid again by placing the jar in some warm water. Not too hot – just out of the tap is fine.

What is Creamed Honey?

Creamed Honey is 100% honey. It is honey that has been allowed to crystalize in a controlled way so that the crystals do not get very big. The result is a creamy, spreadable form of honey.

Our Honey

We extract our honey and coarsely strain to remove bits of wax. From there it is allowed to settle for a bit, then poured into jars. We do not heat it for processing or run it through filters which would strip it of traces of pollen.

Nectar

Our bees forage on a variety of flowers in the area. Trees, neighbors’ gardens, roadside weeds, and wildflowers in nearby fields all provide nectar which they make into a rich and complex tasting honey. We harvest at different times of the year and do not blend batches of honey like large operations do. This means our honey can vary considerably from jar to jar. Sometimes it is very light and clear, sometimes cloudy, sometimes a dark amber.

What is Crystallization?

All natural honey will crystalize. Some within a week of harvesting, some after many years. Raw, unfiltered honey will often crystalize faster because the tiny grains of pollen and wax provide a place for the crystals to grow. Crystalized honey is not bad! In fact it is great to spread on toast or put in tea, and will not taste any different. It can be kept this way indefinitely. If you prefer, you can make your honey liquid again by placing the jar in some warm water. Not too hot – just out of the tap is fine.

What is Creamed Honey?

Creamed Honey is 100% honey. It is honey that has been allowed to crystalize in a controlled way so that the crystals do not get very big. The result is a creamy, spreadable form of honey.

We want to hear from you!

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