12/30/2024
It’s a wrap: the last of Walter Bauer’s honey has been sold and Twin Spruce Apiaries has officially completed its mission of supplying local Catskill Mountain honey to the region; as the barn says since “1941.“ Wolfgang, Walter, Jessie, Nonie, and Walter Jr. Bauer created a space for bees, honey, and community throughout the Catskill region and in the honey shop next to the extracting room whose walls still ring with many years of conversation, arguments, and hearty laughter. In 2019 I, Sheri, began to maintain just the hives on the property, without the assist of the departed beekeepers, while customers still continued to come for chat and to purchase the last drops of the honey extracted by Walter. “I would like more of that dark honey!” I took this time to get to know bees, familiarize myself with new conversations which included wild bees and new hive designs to mitigate temperature swings. I learned to catch swarms and resupply the beeyard with them rather than buying packaged bees from the South to cover lost hives. I also continue to leave most of the honey the bees create with the hives through winter rather than overwinter them on sugar. I leave the “weeds” on the property and plant like a fiend for the length of the season. In truth, I decided to become a bad commercial beekeeper. I think my father would approve after living a life which weathered the increasing storm of commercial practices in beekeeping and agriculture; systems of life now responding to unwise decisions and assaults. As he said to me before he passed away, “The backyard beekeeper will save beekeeping.” A pretty intense comment, one I have come to realize the depth of, from one who devoted his life to the family farm from age 6 to 78. The shop is officially closed through March. Upon reopening I’ll have candles, teas, salves, wax, propolis, and time for conversation on a couple of “to bee announced” days. You can also reach out to me for candles, decorative to emergency, anytime. (contact at www.coxsackiebeegoods.com). At the end of July I will have a little honey to sell; usually Linden honey and not dark! At markets I am there as Coxsackie Bee Goods.Please join me on the “Coxsackie Bee Goods“ page while I, with reverence, humility, reflection, prayers for growth and health for all beings, and continued wonderings about bees, close down this page for Twin Spruce Apiaries. Peace to all. From the clean up crew, Sheri Bauer & Esteemed Ghosts.
