Walk down the honey aisle at any grocery store and you’ll find shelf after shelf of golden jars — some labeled “natural,” some “pure,” some “organic.” And then, tucked somewhere nearby, you’ll find one labeled “raw.” What does raw actually mean? And is it worth paying more for? As a beekeeper whose family has kept hives across four generations — from Moldova and Ukraine to our 33-acre farm here in Franklin, NY — I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this question. The short answer is yes,...

I’ve been around bees my whole life — my family has kept hives for four generations, from Moldova and Ukraine to our 33-acre farm here in the Catskills. And I still learn things about bees that genuinely stop me in my tracks. So if you think bees are just the things you swat away at a picnic, buckle up. These little creatures are some of the most fascinating, dramatic, and frankly unhinged members of the animal kingdom. Here are 13 facts about honeybees and honey that I genuinely love...

Walk into any natural beauty store and you'll spot beeswax on ingredient labels everywhere — from lip balms to lotions to body butters. But what does beeswax actually do for your skin, and why do so many clean beauty products rely on it? Beekeeping runs four generations deep in my family. My relatives still tend hives in Moldova and Ukraine, where this tradition began. When I started my own apiary here in Franklin, NY, I brought that heritage with me — including a deep respect for everything...