A jar of honey can introduce you to a place and the person caring for the hives. At Sunshine Bees Apiary, that story reaches back through four generations of Natalia Wenk’s family, with roots in Moldova and Ukraine.
Today, Natalia works from a 33-acre farm in Franklin, New York, in the Catskills. She also spends time in Baldwin, giving this upstate business a Long Island connection. We asked her about the family tradition, the farm, and where a new customer might begin.
A family tradition carried into the garden
“The biggest thing I carry on from them is a deep love and appreciation for bees,” Natalia says of the generations before her.
She describes her priorities as building strong hives and creating an environment where her bees can thrive. Since buying the farm, she says, she has expanded the garden each year and planted flowering trees chosen to provide food for the bees across the seasons.
Natalia says she does not use synthetic pesticides or chemicals on the property. Her bees also forage in the surrounding Catskills countryside. The garden is part of her working approach to beekeeping, with attention to what is growing and flowering throughout the year.
From the hives to honey and handmade goods
Honey is one part of Sunshine Bees Apiary’s collection. Natalia also makes candles and Mireah skincare, and says she uses ingredients from her hives alongside herbs and flowers grown on the farm.
The peppers for her two spicy honeys come from her own garden, too. That detail offers a small glimpse of the connection between the growing and the making: something planted on the farm becomes part of a finished jar.
On the apiary’s Our Story page, Natalia describes returning from a visit to her grandfather’s hives in Moldova with a renewed interest in beekeeping. She later bought the Franklin property and began making products inspired by the bees. The business describes its goods as handmade in small batches.
Where Natalia would start
Asked which product she would suggest for a first introduction, Natalia’s answer begins with the customer: “It depends on what you’re drawn to!”
For honey, she points to her wildflower honey, which she describes as a customer favorite. For skincare, she suggests her handmade body and face soaps. One of her own favorites is Golden Root face soap, which she says has a carrot juice base and is infused with turmeric. She also mentions her Elixir face serum.
If you are browsing for a gift, start with the person’s everyday preferences: a favorite kind of honey, a scent they enjoy, or a product they already like using. Check the individual listing for ingredients, sizes and current availability before choosing.
You can explore the collection and learn more about the family’s work at Sunshine Bees Apiary.
This free editorial feature is based on Natalia’s written interview answers and the apiary’s published information. Product descriptions and farming practices are attributed to the maker; this is not a hands-on product review.
For more small-business stories and everyday finds, keep in touch with Debjo’s Boutique.