A New York Honey Hunt

Before we get started, first the winners of the Mini Macks’ Culinary Adventures and Giveaway! Ms. Marsha, Ms. Jenny Sue, Ms. Rita, and Ms. Felicity from across the pond in England! Congratulations winners! Thank you all for sharing some fun stories of culinary adventures from your past. I will be contacting each of you to receive your beautiful tote bag from Crooked Brook!
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What do you get when you cross upstate New York with a Mini Mack? A honey hunt, that’s what. It is our annual pilgrimage to the north where we visit the great and powerful Great-Grandma Bates (think the Wizard of Oz times ten). To the village of Weedsport, with the quaintest of Victorian homes and green hills with winding double-line roads outlined by wildflowers waving by. We embarked on a honey hunt fit for a queen bee. Inspired by the Cayuga Office of Tourism, we consulted their Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail brochure.

First stop, Giancarelli Farm and Winery, a.k.a., blueberry picking. “Giancarelli Brothers is a farm, farm stand, store, u-pick and a winery. Fruit wines, jams, jellies and special order baked goods are all available to sweet treat lovers,” says the brochure. Our second visit there, it didn’t disappoint!

Equipped with bright yellow buckets we picked and we pillaged. We tested and we sampled. The terroir of the soil was evaluated and passed with exceptional marks (because really, dirt and berries are a natural pairing, right?!).

Upon returning to the greatest-of-great-Grandma’s kitchen, the Mini Macks and Mini Mack cousins took naps while their staff were put to work making pies and fruit leather.

The next morning brought the second stop on the honey hunt as we traveled south to the Auburn Farmers Co-op Market. The local vendors displayed beautiful baked goods and just-picked produce still warmed by the morning sun. The hunt for honey took a challenging turn when the kind zucchini vendor explained there aren’t enough bee vendors these days and the ones locally go to bigger markets to sell. So we bought some peaches and zucchini and were on our way.

After switching honey-hunting crews, the ladies meandered to Skaneateles Farmer’s market. Atlast, our first successful honey find! A small rectangle of wildflower honeycomb for five dollars, Rory’s first question was, “Does it come with a spoon?” Patience not being pushed, we quickly made our way to Skaneateles’ main street shops to purchase a spoon from Rhubarb’s Kitchen and Garden shop, a bag of jelly beans, and a ginger spritzer. Perusing shop after shop, Rory was fully focused to make her way back to the car to get into her honeycomb.

Our next stop was Strawberry Fields Hydroponic Farm. “Pick strawberries and make your own jam or buy it already made from the delicious strawberries grown hydroponically at Strawberry Fields. Their quaint shop features local honey, syrup, fruits, jams and jellies, flavored oils and sauces, and baked goods,” says the raving brochure. We agreed that Strawberry Fields was a peaceful and enchanting spot to visit. Rory and Pig felt so at home they laid on the sun-warmed tarps in the hydroponic strawberry field listening to the strawberries ripen.

While Pig and Rory listened and dozed to the sweet sounds of strawberries (with the supervision of cousin Lauryn and the Greatest-Aunt Wendy), I found the honey jackpot! – Strawberry blossom honey (from the hives on site!) and other local honey on display. And I tell you what, that fancy brochure wasn’t kidding about the jam! The strawberry jalapeño is top notch! Aunt Wendy, a born and raised local, chatted it up with the shop owner (who she knew) and we soon learned that the hives are managed by an acquaintance from her church, Mr. Bucky Haines.

No sooner were we gleefully admiring our purchases before we were two miles down the country road to Bee Attitudes Honey apiary. “Continuing a family tradition for several generations, beekeeper Stephanie Williams, handcrafts every step of her honey products, leaving every bit of goodness that God intended. Granola, honey-lavender biscotti, ‘Four Thieves’ health tonic, and ‘untouched’ honey are all available as well as a variety of lavender products.” At first we thought this little farm had closed for the season, only to find that Bee Attitudes is as quiet and busy as their hives.

Humming along, the sweet girls inside the shop were straining and bottling honey extracted from the hives just the day before. Rory offered her assistance, but being that she hasn’t gone through her honey harvesting schooling quite yet (just you wait, next summer here we come!), Rory was only approved as far as jar-cap-twisting. But even that responsibility was a treasure!

We tested Bee Attitude’s lavender, ‘untouched’, and none other than Bucky’s Buckwheat honey! Wendi’s church pal, Mr. Bucky, apparently helps with many apiaries in the area. His buckwheat honey is fantastic too! Rory and I agreed it was the purchase to make. We soon thanked the girls of the Bee Attitude’s apiary. A deliciously successful honey hunt, we made our way home to rest before dinner at Aunt Jo’s.

Always a joy to be in Weedsport. Where uncles walk on water, aunts give the best hugs, and Greatest of Grandma’s are always present with adventures galore. Thank you NY family for hosting us!