Berkshire Hills Honey Bee Farm

If you came to the market last season I am sure you had the pleasure of meeting Bob and Vin from Berkshire Hills Honey Bee Farm. Or the "Honey People" as my children call them!

They are great people with a wonderful product. Bob is all about education in beekeeping and will help you and tell anything you need to know to get you started. We know personally as he has helped us start and expand our bee hives.

A little history on how Berkshire Hills Honey Bee Farm all began:

Robert Finch is a 5th generation bee keeper. He decided to start his bee business 4-5 years ago. He "semi" retired in 2009 and decided that Beekeeping would be what he wanted to do to keep himself busy. His first official event that he participated in was the Newark Valley Apple Festival in 2011.

Beekeeping is very important to our environment. This year has been one of the worst years when it comes to loss of bees. There is a normal rate of 30-35% loss per year and this year was worse than that. Many people don't think that 1/3 of the worlds food supply would not be here if it weren't for bees. It is a HUGE issue.

Berkshire Hills Honey

He is hoping to expand their business and they have started expanding their product lines already.
They will be offering:

- honey
-creamed honey
- pollen
-beeswax soap
-lip balm
-honey sticks
-honey candy
-beeswax candles
- 100% molded beeswax

Berkshire Hills Honey Bee Farm molded 100% beeswax

Berkshire Hills Honey Bee Farm handcrafted soaps

The Newark Valley Farmers Market will also be hosting a "Beekeeping day" on August 25, 2013. Mark your calendars. Bob has put this event together and there will be the beekeepers association, how-to's, beekeeping products for sale, as well as information and more. Come check it out!

Ravenwood Gardens

 

 Meet Abigail Stevens from:

http://www.Ravenwoodgardens.com

"I opened my herbal business, Ravenwood Gardens, 5 years ago with dreams of making it a full time career. I have studied for over 10 years and currently am enrolled in a Professional Herbalist Course at East West School of Herbology. I currently "farm" on both my property in Binghamton, NY and Lounsberry, NY. I use organic farming methods, harvest ethically, & follow the guidelines of the American Herbalist Guild.

This year I am expanding to two locations Newark Valley Farmer's market & Otsiningo Park Farmers market. Today you can find Herbal Soaking Salts, Massage oils, Medicinal Ointments, Poultices, Corn pillows & more. This year I plan to expand the “internal” line with more foods, syrups, teas, & lozenges.  I hope to introduce or shall I say re-introduce herbalism into the community. My goal is to make herbs easy for you to use in this sometimes crazy life. In the future I hope I will be able to expand into a mobile treatment house. So that I will be able to provide simple consultations and wider product line of herbals at markets, festivals & gatherings of all sorts.

I have been interested in plants & plant medicine all my life. My grandparents owned a farm and greenhouse business in Pulaski, NY where I spent most of my summers. This is where I learned how to plant, care and love the land. As I grew up I began to realize how "modern" medicine seemed to have it all backwards. My little sister, Angie, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of two. Watching all the different "treatments she had to go through was one of the worst things I ever had to see. I felt that all the tests and treatments in the world were not helping her at all. She was always bruised, tired, or looking to sickly to play. I guess they worked though since she is still with us 24 years later. Might I add still a pain in my backside. Angie has started to craft things for Ravenwood Gardens, so from time to time you will see some "crafty" type stuff at my stand that she has made. To this day I can't help but think that there was something more supportive that could have been done.  At 18, I myself was starting to have joint pain & stress issues. I refused to take the "modern" way of handling it. Diving into my studies even more, I have been able to control my discomfort level with baths, infused oils, & so much more.

Looking forward to seeing you at Newark Valley Farmers Market this year!"