CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN (a farmer-to-farmer alternative to USDA Certified Organic). Our 2009 harvest is coming in and there's only one word: FANTASTIC! Despite heavy winter losses to our hives our survivor and replacement bees have done well this Spring and Summer. Lots of rain and cool weather has curtailed some of their activity but the honey coming in is our most flavorful yet. We got a significant nectar flow from black locust (a flowering tree) and clover, along with everything blooming from late March through the first week of July. Even a noticeable addition of wild raspberry nectar has contributed to a wonderful honey. Even non-honey lovers get a smile and a 'Wow!" on their lips after sampling this year's honey.

Our honey is produced using organic methods... meaning we do not treat our hives or our bees with chemical pesticides nor do we use our hives to pollinate commercial crops. While this places greater risks for the beekeeper (losses due to varroa or tracheal mites, foulbrood, etc.), the bees and their honey seem to enjoy the chemical free environment. THIS IS THE BEST HONEY YOU WILL EVER TRY.

Our honey price may fluctuate due to rising costs. However, it remains a terrific and healthy value...

The season began with the bees collecting early nectar and pollen sources, including willows, oak, maples, and dandelion; a few hives took advantage of skunk cabbage, but in early June the bees feasted on prolific locust flowers, yielding a white premium honey. As Spring turned to summer the bees foraged raspberry, honeysuckle, clover, flea bane, milkweed, and finally, sumac, among others. In the Fall our honey includes nectar from such flowers as goldenrod, purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed, and aster.

There's been a lot of press about "COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER," a term for the mysterious disappearance of bees in many hives across the country. It may turn out that the bees are reacting to the myriad chemicals introduced into their living space, through treatments, pollen collection, or even genetically modified crops. Honey bees and their hives are plagued with a variety of pests: varroa mites, tracheal mites, American foulbrood, and wax moths. There are some FDA approved pesticides for combatting the mites and moths; terramycin is used to prevent foulbrood. If foulbrood is present in one's hives, the standard treatment is to burn the hive and start over--ouch!

Why ORGANIC? We don't like our bees crawling over pesticides and potentially mixing these residues with the honey! So we use a variety of techniques and measures to counter these enemies. Naturally, we don't always have the same short-term success, but in the long run we think our bees--and the honey--are better off. We hope you will, too.

Bees travel within a 5-mile radius of their hive to collect nectar and pollen. Our location in the southern Connecticut River Valley remains relatively rural and our hives are well away from industrial or large-scale farm operations.

USDA organic standards for certification have yet to be finalized. Instead we have become CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN, an alternative certification process by farmers for farmers. We abide by organic principles. As members of the Connecticut Northeast Organic Farmers Association, we have signed the FARMERS PLEDGE which binds us to growing and selling crops using organic methods. For example, in early Spring when bees can use a boost until the nectar flow begins we feed our bees organic sugar syrup.

So, what"s in your honey? Three Sisters Farms Honey is NATURAL and sometimes referred to as the Bordeau of Honeys.

Limited supply. Increasingly popular with our new customers, as well as old, our honey is an annual sellout. TASTE the difference! Limit of 3 lbs. per order.

Free shipping does not apply to honey sales.