SWEET BUZZINGS OF THE FINGERLAKES BLOG

If you live in the Finger Lakes (or in the upper US and Canada), chances are you noticed it the moment you stepped outside yesterday and today. The air smells like a campfire. The sky looks hazy. The sun appears muted behind a veil of smoke.Like many of you, we immediately started thinking about the air quality and how it affects our health. But then another question popped into our head... If beekeepers use smoke to calm honey bees, what happens when the smoke is coming from

As discussions continue about making Standard Time permanent in the United States, many people are wondering how the change would affect daily life. But here at Fingerlakes Honey Company, our minds naturally wandered to a different question: What about the bees? Would honey bees get confused if we stopped changing our clocks twice a year? Would they wake up "an hour early?" Would they miss the flowers? The answer is both simple and fascinating.

For something so small, bees can stir up some very big emotions. For many people, the buzz of wings alone is enough to trigger anxiety, a quick step backward, or even a full sprint in the opposite direction. If that sounds familiar, you’re far from alone. The fear of bees, sometimes called melissophobia or apiphobia, is incredibly common.

As we celebrate 250 years of sweet freedom, we can't help but think about another remarkable American tradition that has quietly stood the test of time—beekeeping. So grab your favorite iced tea sweetened with one of our Fingerlakes Honey Company Infused Honeys, settle back on your porch rocker, and read all about it.

Did you know honey bees help produce larger, better-shaped strawberries? Explore the fascinating connection between strawberries and pollinators, discover fun facts, and enjoy strawberry-inspired products and recipes from Fingerlakes Honey Company.

Wedding anniversaries are more than dates on a calendar—they’re milestones that mark shared memories, growth, and the everyday sweetness of building a life together. Over time, different materials and symbols have become associated with each anniversary year, from paper to gold, each reflecting a stage in a couple’s journey. Today, many people are blending traditional meaning with modern creativity, choosing gifts that feel more personal, thoughtful, and memorable.

May 27th is National Grape Day — the perfect time to celebrate one of the Finger Lakes region’s most beloved fruits! From vineyard-covered hillsides to homemade jams and family recipes, grapes have long been woven into the story of the Finger Lakes. Here at Fingerlakes Honey Company, grapes hold a special place in our hearts (and our pantry shelves).

This week we’re taking a little journey through time as we explore the history of baking, just in time for the third Sunday in May—also known as World Baking Day. From the earliest flatbreads cooked over open fires to the modern ovens we rely on today, baking has been a part of human life for thousands of years, bringing comfort, creativity, and connection to every generation.

There was a time when the first day of May meant something quietly magical. On the morning of May 1st, neighbors would open their doors to find a small surprise hanging from the doorknob—a basket of flowers left in secret, often by a friend, a child, or even an admirer who didn’t want to be seen. No notifications. No labels. No expectation of anything in return. Just a simple act of kindness: a May Day basket.

As we celebrate our planet, it is the perfect time to shine a light on the tiny, winged wonders that keep our ecosystems humming. While Earth Day 2026 focuses on the theme "Our Power, Our Planet," there is perhaps no better example of "power in numbers" than the honey bee.

We thought it would be fun to give you a peek behind the scenes at what it really takes to prepare for a craft fair here at Fingerlakes Honey Company. Over the years, we’ve developed a system that works for us (with a few bumps along the way), and we’d love to share not just what we do—but how you can do it too.

If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you’ve heard the term “hive mind” more than a few times. In the show, it refers to a dark, interconnected intelligence controlling creatures from the Upside Down — one brain, many bodies, total domination.It’s dramatic. It’s eerie. It’s fantastic storytelling. But what about real honey bee hives?

In the quiet village of Dresden, NY—where bees buzzed, honey flowed, and everyone knew everyone—something strange was brewing in February of when William Keefer awoke to find eight of his honeybee colonies missing. Stolen. Vanished into the cold, still air.

Whether you’re here to read, reminisce, or try a recipe for your own holiday table, I invite you to linger a little, step inside, and share in a wonderful lifetime of Christmas mornings- a celebration of the past, the present, and the promise of all the holidays yet to bee, a celebration of the past, the present, and the promise of all the holidays yet to come.

Make your holiday gatherings unforgettable with Fingerlakes Honey Company’s sweet, savory, and crowd-pleasing appetizers. Whether you’re hosting a big Christmas Eve party, a cozy night with family, or a casual get-together with friends, the right snacks can turn any table into the heart of the celebration.

We are celebrating a birthday this week here at Fingerlakes Honey Company. Happy Birthday November 13th to Beekeeper Stacie! As we get ready to celebrate, we've been thinking about time- how it passes, how quickly seasons change, and what we can learn from the bees that share our world. Every member of the hive has its own life span, rhythm, and purpose. Together, they keep the colony thriving year after year, season after season. So let's celebrate by learning about the lif

What a month it’s been in the Finger Lakes! Between golden leaves, cozy kitchens, and busy bees preparing for the colder days ahead, October brought plenty of sweetness our way. From new recipes and fall favorites to updates around the hive, we’ve wrapped up the month with lots to share. Here’s a peek at what’s been happening.

In celebration of National Chemistry Week, we’re thrilled to feature a special post from our very own Dr. Felix Janeway- scientist, teacher, and proud member of our family (aka Bailey’s husband!).

So, what does space have to do with honey? As it turns out… quite a lot! Because floating in the night sky is a glittering reminder that the universe has its own kind of hive. In honor of World Space Week, we’re thrilled to feature a special post by our daughter, Bailey Filer, a second-year Ph.D. candidate in Astrophysical Sciences and Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is advised by Dr. Jason Nordhaus, who guides her research in the dynamics of common

It’s National Dog Week, and around here at Fingerlakes Honey Company, we think our four-legged friends deserve a little celebration too! Naturally, when we think of treats, honey comes to mind—but is honey safe for dogs?