Producer MMonthonth Producer - However Wild Honey - Brattleboro Food Co-op
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However Wild Honey
Shaftsbury, VT
P ro d u c e r OF
THE
FEBRUARY 2021
Mont h
Producer Month
by Jon Megas-Russell
OF
THE
H
owever Wild Honey is a
family owned and operated
apiary located in Shaftsbury,
Vermont. It began over 20 years
ago with Jim and Gail Howe, and
included their son Adam Howe.
Through those early years they
developed a love for beekeeping
and apiculture. The family worked
together to draw the artwork
for their first Raw Honey label by
hand, which was then given to a
local printing company who used
it to create the honey labels they
continue to use to this day. They
then sold their honey to a few local
stores. This continued while Adam
was away at college and after he
returned home to Vermont.
The current owners of However
Wild Honey are Adam Howe and it has been since the beginning. They fall (the nectars of which mainly
his wife Ashley Howe. Adam and believe Raw Honey is as close to come from goldenrod, asters and
Ashley grew up in the same church, the way nature intended as possible. knotweed). Summer honey remains
attended the same college, and both Here at the Co-op we carry their liquid for several months before
returned to Vermont, where they Raw Honey line in all sizes of glass crystallizing, due to the unique
were married. For a few short years jars, honeycomb, and two types of composition of the sugar crystals
they pursued their individual jobs, bulk honey—Spring Linden and Fall within the nectars, whereas fall
but a longing to return to Adam’s Wildflower. honey crystallizes within a month
first love of beekeeping soon led Honey is extracted twice a year: from extraction, also due to the
them to both work in that direction. in the spring (which in this region differing, but unique composition of
Ashley was new to beekeeping, but includes nectars from honeysuckle, the sugar crystals. A lot of confusion
learned quickly under Adam’s tute- locust, linden, and buckthorn), and rests as to why Raw Honey varies
lage. They worked hard to expand
their small bee operation into a full
time business over the course of a
few years. Jim and Gail continued to
work with Adam and Ashley as the
business grew.
Now in 2021 they manage many
more hives than in those early years.
They produce enough honey to sell
to many local stores and co-ops
across Southern Vermont. They
also raise and sell Mated Queens,
Nucleus Colonies, and Bee Equip-
ment as an authorized Mann Lake
Dealer. Their honey sales now
include three jar lines: Raw Honey,
Honey Bears, and iconic glass Mouth
Jars; though their Raw Honey line
continues to be their best seller as
in texture from season to season. It Southern Vermont, including right skincare line, utilizing their honey
also goes without saying that nectars here in Brattleboro. and beeswax. She is passionate about
from different flowers produce COVID-19 has brought challenges creating products that are good for
widely differing flavors and the to just about every industry and the skin and don’t contain harmful
different varieties of those seasons business, and apiaries are no differ- chemicals found in so many products
dictate texture. Some prefer the ent. One of the biggest impacts on the market today.
liquid consistency of spring honey, they’ve seen from the pandemic is a What will the future bring for
while others prefer the smooth, shortage of jars available for bottling. However Wild Honey? First and
spreadable texture of the fall honey. For over 20 years However Wild foremost, to maintain their mission
Whether you like lightly flavored Honey has used the Mason Canning of providing a sustainable, local Raw
honey or a more robust floral Jar as an iconic vessel for distrib- Honey source while exemplifying
aroma, there is bound to be a honey uting their honey. As COVID-19 responsible pollinator management
that suits your tastes. cases rose in late winter of 2020 and and to provide a local bee and
The existence of bees is essential grocery store shelves were depleted, beekeeping equipment source. With
to the livelihood of human beings. consumer’s minds turned toward the health and well-being of honey-
Bees pollinate (transferring of pollen more sustainable food sources – aka bees being critical to our world they
from male to female plants enabling home gardening and canning. With see no end in sight for this reward-
fertilization and production of seeds) more home owners spending their ing work. They also have dreams of
somewhere in the vicinity of 80% of days at their homesteads working their two young sons taking over the
all plants that grow to feed people online rather than the workplace, business many years from now. For
across the world. Without bees we home gardening took off more the time being they are content with
simply would not have food staples than it has in years. Gardens full of working closely with co-ops and
such as blueberries, almonds, apples, summer produce led to a huge surge local farms to continue their evolu-
and more. Overall it would be much in food preservation needs, one that tion in bee keeping.
more complicated for food to grow, was not anticipated by the canning
and in many ways people simply jar market. They were left searching Try However Wild Honey in
take bees for granted. The team at for alternative jars for fall bottling. Bulk by bringing in your own
However Wild Honey takes deep So, if you notice their Raw Honey clear container and letting us
pride in supporting and maintaining jars changing to non-mason jars, fill it for you! If you purchase
their hives in a manner that allows you’ll know it is out of necessity to through curbside, add
bees to grow and proliferate. While continue to deliver the quality Raw
However Wild Honey to
some of their hives are located on Honey customers know and love. As
their farm in Shaftsbury, they also the honey business has grown Ashley your order today!
have hives on various farms across has also created a natural soap and
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