2025 HONEY SOLD OUT
Sourwood honey may be available Fall 2025
(Waiting for lab tests to verify sourwood content.)
"Sourwood honey is so rare that a good crop
sometimes only surfaces once per decade." - Slow Food USA
Honey in Western North Carolina and Chatham County, North Carolina
Western North Carolina honey near Fontana Lake
This year’s honey from Robbinsville, North Carolina is Stecoah Sweet. Stecoah Sweet reminds me of a toffee-like candy from my childhood with a delayed cotton candy aftertaste. (If you had my inaugural harvest of Nantahala Nectar a few years ago—this year’s harvest feels like a close repeat!) It has a fruity aroma—like peach and fig jam. I did a spoon comparison between last year’s mountain honey and this year’s harvest. This year’s honey is slower to slip off the spoon, but not as slow as molasses. I particularly like this honey with mild cheese. I had a preview a few weeks ago when I cut some burr honeycomb out to make room for more frames. I added the comb on top of a slice of sourdough with my favorite Boxcarr Handmade Cheese, Cottonseed. (I also fancy their Campo.) I’m tempted to use the honey in a mojito. If I do, I’ll share the recipe in an upcoming post.
“Stecoah” is a Cherokee term that, based on various sources, means “little place” or “cute place” or “the baby one.” Stecoah Gap on the Appalachian Trail is 2 miles as the crow flies from the hives. It’s the site of North Carolina’s forthcoming first-ever wildlife land bridge (PDF).
This year’s order form also includes a book-and-honey bundle. My first story collection ROSE WINDOW released earlier this month.
Sourwood honey update
I pulled more than 20 lbs of what I believe to be sourwood honey. I'm sending it out for lab verification. If it is sourwood, I'll offer a special release this fall. (Lab testing takes 2 months.)
“Stecoah” is a Cherokee term that, based on various sources, means “little place” or “cute place” or “the baby one.” Stecoah Gap on the Appalachian Trail is 2 miles as the crow flies from the hives. It’s the site of North Carolina’s forthcoming first-ever wildlife land bridge (PDF).
This year’s order form also includes a book-and-honey bundle. My first story collection ROSE WINDOW released earlier this month.
Sourwood honey update
I pulled more than 20 lbs of what I believe to be sourwood honey. I'm sending it out for lab verification. If it is sourwood, I'll offer a special release this fall. (Lab testing takes 2 months.)
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This year’s honey from Pittsboro, North Carolina was Piedmont Blooms. Piedmont Blooms tasted like a pear crème brûlée. When spinning the frames, I felt like my head was in a cloud of honeysuckle. Highly floral aroma. It's fluid. The slight almond aftertaste inspired me to make a brunch cocktail the morning after honey harvest: Honey, splash of amaretto, coffee, and heavy cream. This year’s order form also included my inaugural offering of propolis.
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Raw propolis was available for the first time.
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2025: All my colonies survived winter. As of May 27, Pittsboro honey SOLD OUT in less than 12 hours. As of July 30, WNC mountain honey orders sold out in less than 36 hours. Each year I donate to a different organization. This year I'll donate 10% of all sales to the American Farmland Trust (AFT). Our country, and North Carolina, are losing a devastating amount of farmland. This loss hits very close to home. A gorgeous 440-acre farm adjacent to our street will be turned into 1,200+ homes over the next few years. AFT helps to protect and steward farms across the country.
2024: This was a record-breaking year with honey production and demand. Mountain honey sold out in 2 hours and Pittsboro honey sold out in 12 hours! 10% of all sales were donated to the Rodale Institute, which helps support regenerative agriculture.
2023: Thank you for your support. Honey sold out in less than 72 hours! I donated 10% of all sales to the Xerces Society, a science-based nonprofit that protects wildlife.
2022: I bottled the 5-year anniversary edition of Chatham Blossoms and the inaugural harvest of Nantahala Nectar. 10% of all sales were donated to the Pollinator Partnership, the largest organization in the world protecting pollinators.
2021: Small harvest for friends and family only.
2020: No harvest.
2019: Sold out before I bottled.
2018: Small harvest for friends and family only.
2017: First hive established. No harvest.
I only reserve bottles for special events. Contact me to reserve honey for wedding favors, bridal and baby shower favors, unique business referral gifts, graduations, retirements, and any special occasion. I also design custom labels.
2024: This was a record-breaking year with honey production and demand. Mountain honey sold out in 2 hours and Pittsboro honey sold out in 12 hours! 10% of all sales were donated to the Rodale Institute, which helps support regenerative agriculture.
2023: Thank you for your support. Honey sold out in less than 72 hours! I donated 10% of all sales to the Xerces Society, a science-based nonprofit that protects wildlife.
2022: I bottled the 5-year anniversary edition of Chatham Blossoms and the inaugural harvest of Nantahala Nectar. 10% of all sales were donated to the Pollinator Partnership, the largest organization in the world protecting pollinators.
2021: Small harvest for friends and family only.
2020: No harvest.
2019: Sold out before I bottled.
2018: Small harvest for friends and family only.
2017: First hive established. No harvest.
I only reserve bottles for special events. Contact me to reserve honey for wedding favors, bridal and baby shower favors, unique business referral gifts, graduations, retirements, and any special occasion. I also design custom labels.
Special event honey favor requests get priority.
What folks say about my honey
Your honey is out-of-this-world delicious! We are very privileged to have some. I can't wait to share your honey with family.
"I'm super excited to tell you that your honey is one-of-a-kind! It was super light, very aromatic, and the taste was delicious. It was almost like tasting flowers! It's a beautiful experience. I'm excited to make a few home recipes soon."
"Thanks for the awesome honey."
"Thanks for the awesome honey."
I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to get jars this year! It's truly as precious as gold to us.
"Your honey has been so delicious and I have just a small amount left - insert dramatic SIGH here. I made a honey-pistachio cheesecake that was an absolute hit with my family and have drizzled, stirred, and even put some into my coffee and tea to enjoy the beautiful flavors. I am interested in getting some sourwood honey if/when the time comes. Hoping you can get a great harvest so I can lop off my arm to give you in exchange for that rare and delicious honey!"
"This honey is SO GOOD."
"This honey is SO GOOD."
I love the poems you put on the back of your honey. I love reading them. I purchased Glue-be-Gone so that I can take them off the glass when it's empty. It's very special. I'm not sure you appreciate how special they make your honey.
Want to get the honey order form 2 days before everyone else? Paid subscribers of my Substack get the honey order form 2 days early AND they get free shipping on all orders smaller than a case.
Five Acres Honey Farm is a hobby farm. Due to the small production and the costly nature of managing the hives, I do not make a profit. I sell honey when possible because I enjoy offering it to people who appreciate it.