Behind the Hives

A little about the beekeeper, the bees, and the work behind Sunside Apiary.

We're a small, working apiary in New York's Northern Catskills, producing local honey, handmade goods from the hive, and practical beekeeping education.

Everything we do begins with the bees: caring for healthy colonies, following the seasons, and sharing a little of what we've learned along the way.

Meet Your Beekeeper

I'm Colleen, the beekeeper behind Sunside Apiary, a small working apiary in New York's Hudson Valley.

I'm a Cornell Master Beekeeper, a beekeeping educator, and a firm believer that there's always something new to learn from the bees. I manage my own colonies, work with other beekeepers, and spend a good deal of time helping people make sense of what's happening inside their hives.

Alongside producing honey and handmade goods from the hive, I teach beginning beekeeping, facilitate Cornell's Master Beekeeping program, and work with local organizations to make beekeeping education more accessible.

Sunside brings all of that work together: caring for bees, making useful things from what they produce, and sharing what I've learned with anyone curious enough to ask.

And for the record, the bees still surprise me daily.

Through the Seasons

At Sunside, the seasons set the schedule and the bees have the final say.

Our work begins with caring for healthy, thriving colonies. From spring buildup and summer honey flows to fall preparations and the long winter months, every season brings its own challenges, rewards, and occasionally a few surprises.

The honey we harvest and the products we make are a natural extension of that work. We produce local honey, hand-poured beeswax candles, and other useful goods made with ingredients from the hive.

We keep things small, thoughtful, and rooted in the work itself. Healthy bees come first. Everything else follows.

Sharing What We Learn

Beekeeping is a lifelong endeavor. Just when you think you've figured something out, the bees have a way of reminding you there's more to learn.

Education is a big part of what we do at Sunside. Through workshops, mentorship, and community programs, we help new and growing beekeepers build the knowledge and confidence to care for their colonies.

Our FIELDWORK education program brings that philosophy to life, offering practical, seasonally focused learning that connects what's happening in the hive with the science behind it.

We also believe that good beekeeping education should be approachable, affordable, and grounded in real experience. There's no such thing as a silly question, and no one should feel intimidated about getting started.

Curiosity encouraged.

FIELDWORK