Every once in a while, you come across someone in history who didn’t just leave behind a legacy—they left behind a way of life. Gilbert M. Doolittle, the father of commercial queen-rearing, was one of those extraordinary souls. His methods shaped modern beekeeping. His words sparked thought, laughter, and plenty of lively debate. And his deep devotion to bees and truth—not theory—cemented his place in apicultural history.

Peter Sieling’s journey through time, tracing the lives and legacy of the Cogshall brothers and G.M. Doolittle, is more than just a scenic trip across New York’s backroads. It’s a love letter to the beekeepers who built the foundations we now stand on. These pioneers lived, worked, innovated, and quite literally changed the way honey was harvested, and they did it right here in our neck of the woods.

Imagine walking into a store, a church, or even your friend’s house, only to be hit with a wave of scent that feels like you just got tackled by a flowery linebacker. Your eyes water. Your throat closes up. Your head pounds. And all you want to do is escape. If you are nodding in miserable recognition, you are not alone and there is no better time to talk about it than now. July 8th is National Allergy Day, a moment to acknowledge the countless individuals whose immune system