HURRICANE HELENE HIT OUR BOTTLING WAREHOUSE – Strange Honey Farm deliveries are suspended and the Tennessee Artisan Honey online store is closed until late November. I'm hoping for a Thanksgiving celebration. By Carol Hagen
2024-11.1 PROGRESS REPORT
Serious dedication by Gary Strange, Matt Strange and their crew is starting to bear fruit. The office, bottling facility, and front warehouse where orders are picked up are clean and steam sterilized. This includes the removal of wet insulation and rewiring. Glass jars, buckets, jugs and labels are starting to arrive. The new laptop and fax-printer are installed. THE BIG WAIT is on machine parts for the bottling and filtering machines. Honestly, machine parts for everything. As with all farms, the wack-a-moll of waiting means there is time to check on bee yards and winterize the hives. The best estimate for honey sales is the end of November.
2024-10.1 INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
By now you have read about or seen video of how hard the northeastern parts of Tennessee were hit by Helene. Our bottling facility and wood shop were flooded by the storm, but we can recover and that work has begun. My business goal is to deliver high quality raw honey within two to seven days. For the last decade, Gary Strange has consistently provided me with the best Tennessee honey I've tasted and in volumes your home, kitchen, and counter needs. Below is a nuanced story of what has happened.
The Strange Honey Farm warehouse in Del Rio, TN is up the French Broad River from Newport, TN, but at a higher altitude. The French Board is roughly a quarter-mile away. The river crested at 22ft on Saturday morning, September 28th and the flood water stayed at a high water mark of 10-15ft for several hours.
Even in a crisis there are a dozen reasons to bee grateful. The warehouse and garage are still standing, so the contents were protected within the structure from high winds and rushing water. The strong fencing between the railroad track embankment and the property stopped the debris and the woodland on the far side of the property is sound. The office, filtering and bottling machines, wood shop with spare woodenware, farm trucks, front end loaders, tractors and generator are muddy, wet, and likely in need of repair or replacement. At least its all-in-one place without piles of trees and rolled vehicles. We are fortunate to work with Gary Strange, a hardworking brilliant man who plans and follows though. We are a highly skilled crew and this is not our first bad rodeo.
Bees are not like cattle; the majority of hives are up in the mountains away from the worst of the flooding. Yards of hives are on private property, where the wild flower nectar crops grow. There is likely another 4-6 weeks of pollen and nectar flow so the bees are fine. There will be some hive loss, but the majority of the hives are near stands of trees and grouped on pallets to protect them from storms. Gary and the crew work their 1400 hives in regular rounds during the harvest season. Before Helene the colonies were healthy and active so it’s reasonable to assume the remaining bees will be fine. It’s in the bee's nature to remain in the hive during a storm and the colony will instinctively prepare for the winter. Thank goodness it’s the last month of the harvest season.
The 2024 unfiltered honey harvest is stored in sealed 50 gallon barrels. Honey is filtered and bottled as orders are received so the jarred honey loss is minimal. The glass, jugs, buckets, lids and labels are unusable and will need to be repurchased after the clean up. Inspections and honey quality tests will ensue as soon as possible.
Sadly, Gary's garden for his family was around the warehouse. His apple & peach orchard was amazing this summer, lots of vegetables, and newly mulched flowers with 20 hives. That’s all gone and mud remains. That hurts the heart.
I will reach out to you from here as soon as we ready to take honey orders. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, this is one rodeo I wished we had missed.
Carol Hagen, Honey Artisan & Beekeeper & Source of amazing honey from STRANGE HONEY FARM.
2024-11.1 PROGRESS REPORT
Serious dedication by Gary Strange, Matt Strange and their crew is starting to bear fruit. The office, bottling facility, and front warehouse where orders are picked up are clean and steam sterilized. This includes the removal of wet insulation and rewiring. Glass jars, buckets, jugs and labels are starting to arrive. The new laptop and fax-printer are installed. THE BIG WAIT is on machine parts for the bottling and filtering machines. Honestly, machine parts for everything. As with all farms, the wack-a-moll of waiting means there is time to check on bee yards and winterize the hives. The best estimate for honey sales is the end of November.
2024-10.1 INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
By now you have read about or seen video of how hard the northeastern parts of Tennessee were hit by Helene. Our bottling facility and wood shop were flooded by the storm, but we can recover and that work has begun. My business goal is to deliver high quality raw honey within two to seven days. For the last decade, Gary Strange has consistently provided me with the best Tennessee honey I've tasted and in volumes your home, kitchen, and counter needs. Below is a nuanced story of what has happened.
The Strange Honey Farm warehouse in Del Rio, TN is up the French Broad River from Newport, TN, but at a higher altitude. The French Board is roughly a quarter-mile away. The river crested at 22ft on Saturday morning, September 28th and the flood water stayed at a high water mark of 10-15ft for several hours.
Even in a crisis there are a dozen reasons to bee grateful. The warehouse and garage are still standing, so the contents were protected within the structure from high winds and rushing water. The strong fencing between the railroad track embankment and the property stopped the debris and the woodland on the far side of the property is sound. The office, filtering and bottling machines, wood shop with spare woodenware, farm trucks, front end loaders, tractors and generator are muddy, wet, and likely in need of repair or replacement. At least its all-in-one place without piles of trees and rolled vehicles. We are fortunate to work with Gary Strange, a hardworking brilliant man who plans and follows though. We are a highly skilled crew and this is not our first bad rodeo.
Bees are not like cattle; the majority of hives are up in the mountains away from the worst of the flooding. Yards of hives are on private property, where the wild flower nectar crops grow. There is likely another 4-6 weeks of pollen and nectar flow so the bees are fine. There will be some hive loss, but the majority of the hives are near stands of trees and grouped on pallets to protect them from storms. Gary and the crew work their 1400 hives in regular rounds during the harvest season. Before Helene the colonies were healthy and active so it’s reasonable to assume the remaining bees will be fine. It’s in the bee's nature to remain in the hive during a storm and the colony will instinctively prepare for the winter. Thank goodness it’s the last month of the harvest season.
The 2024 unfiltered honey harvest is stored in sealed 50 gallon barrels. Honey is filtered and bottled as orders are received so the jarred honey loss is minimal. The glass, jugs, buckets, lids and labels are unusable and will need to be repurchased after the clean up. Inspections and honey quality tests will ensue as soon as possible.
Sadly, Gary's garden for his family was around the warehouse. His apple & peach orchard was amazing this summer, lots of vegetables, and newly mulched flowers with 20 hives. That’s all gone and mud remains. That hurts the heart.
I will reach out to you from here as soon as we ready to take honey orders. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, this is one rodeo I wished we had missed.
Carol Hagen, Honey Artisan & Beekeeper & Source of amazing honey from STRANGE HONEY FARM.
Nashville Farmers Market - Since 2015
900 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208
Shed 1, Booth 215
Fri 10am - 3pm - Closed until December
Sat 9am - 4pm
Sun 10am - 3pm
Link to HONEY IN YOUR NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS
HONEY RETAIL & WHOLESALE
PURCHASE & SHIP & DELIVERY
Unsure what you want? Scroll down.
900 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208
Shed 1, Booth 215
Fri 10am - 3pm - Closed until December
Sat 9am - 4pm
Sun 10am - 3pm
Link to HONEY IN YOUR NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS
HONEY RETAIL & WHOLESALE
PURCHASE & SHIP & DELIVERY
Unsure what you want? Scroll down.
ABOUT US AND WHAT WE DO
GARY STRANGE started his apiary in 1983 with 100 hives in Del Rio, TN. Today, Gary and his crew care for 1400 natural hives and harvest pure, raw honey. Strange Honey Farm has been registered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for 25 years.
Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Del Rio sits along the French Broad River in the Tennessee Cherokee National Forest about 240 miles northeast of Nashville. Fortunately, the mountains are not conducive to industry or commercial farming and pesticide spraying. Located in ZONE 7, our honey helps people across Tennessee with seasonal allergies. This pristine environment is a beekeeper's dream come true: it provides a full season of nectar and pollen for healthy bees and in turn, a significant harvest of delicious honey. The Strange Honey Farm harvests enough honey April-September to last through the winter months supplying 100% PURE TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HONEY year round.
Gary Strange owns and operates the largest natural apiary in the state of TN using natural bee management techniques. No sugar is fed to the bees at any time. When there is a summer drought, Gary feeds the Strange Honey Farm bees their own honey harvest to keep them healthy. He uses essential oil of Thyme in the very early spring for varroa mite control. The fall harvest is September- early October. Gary ensures the bees have time to harvest fall nectar and pollen for the winter months. He will check hives on warmer days to see if the colonies need honey harvest, while French Broad River provides water year round.
Strange Honey Farm does not buy honey from other beekeepers. Honey is not heated or ultra-filtered. The farm is subjected to unannounced TN State Department of Agriculture farm inspections and FDA honey analysis.
CAROL HAGEN is the proprietor of Queen Bee Pollinators dba Tennessee Artisan Honey and the Nashville area distributor for Strange Honey Farm. A lifelong advocate of sustainability and natural farming, Carol strongly believes happy, healthy bees produce the best honey. Tennessee Artisan Honey is pleased to offer pure, raw honey from naturally managed mountain bee hives.
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STRANGE HONEY FARM PRODUCT LINE
STRANGE HONEY FARM harvests three distinct types of honey: Dark Wildflower, Sourwood and Tennessee Mountain. Our honey is lightly filtered so the naturally occurring pollen remains a significant feature.
HONEY IS SOLD BY WEIGHT rather than volume and is heavier than water, which is the standard for "fluid ounces". However, the US Food & Drug Administration requires net weight of food products be recorded in pounds/ounces/grams. As a general rule, honey weighs 12lbs per gallon. The density, water content, purity, and the variety of honey are all factors that can make minor changes to the density of honey and in turn, can influence the weight of honey per gallon. An in depth explanation on honey weight can be found at this link HOW MUCH DOES A GALLON OF HONEY WEIGH It's a lengthy article but answers all of the questions we are frequently asked.
GARY STRANGE started his apiary in 1983 with 100 hives in Del Rio, TN. Today, Gary and his crew care for 1400 natural hives and harvest pure, raw honey. Strange Honey Farm has been registered with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for 25 years.
Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Del Rio sits along the French Broad River in the Tennessee Cherokee National Forest about 240 miles northeast of Nashville. Fortunately, the mountains are not conducive to industry or commercial farming and pesticide spraying. Located in ZONE 7, our honey helps people across Tennessee with seasonal allergies. This pristine environment is a beekeeper's dream come true: it provides a full season of nectar and pollen for healthy bees and in turn, a significant harvest of delicious honey. The Strange Honey Farm harvests enough honey April-September to last through the winter months supplying 100% PURE TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HONEY year round.
Gary Strange owns and operates the largest natural apiary in the state of TN using natural bee management techniques. No sugar is fed to the bees at any time. When there is a summer drought, Gary feeds the Strange Honey Farm bees their own honey harvest to keep them healthy. He uses essential oil of Thyme in the very early spring for varroa mite control. The fall harvest is September- early October. Gary ensures the bees have time to harvest fall nectar and pollen for the winter months. He will check hives on warmer days to see if the colonies need honey harvest, while French Broad River provides water year round.
Strange Honey Farm does not buy honey from other beekeepers. Honey is not heated or ultra-filtered. The farm is subjected to unannounced TN State Department of Agriculture farm inspections and FDA honey analysis.
CAROL HAGEN is the proprietor of Queen Bee Pollinators dba Tennessee Artisan Honey and the Nashville area distributor for Strange Honey Farm. A lifelong advocate of sustainability and natural farming, Carol strongly believes happy, healthy bees produce the best honey. Tennessee Artisan Honey is pleased to offer pure, raw honey from naturally managed mountain bee hives.
________________________________________________
STRANGE HONEY FARM PRODUCT LINE
STRANGE HONEY FARM harvests three distinct types of honey: Dark Wildflower, Sourwood and Tennessee Mountain. Our honey is lightly filtered so the naturally occurring pollen remains a significant feature.
HONEY IS SOLD BY WEIGHT rather than volume and is heavier than water, which is the standard for "fluid ounces". However, the US Food & Drug Administration requires net weight of food products be recorded in pounds/ounces/grams. As a general rule, honey weighs 12lbs per gallon. The density, water content, purity, and the variety of honey are all factors that can make minor changes to the density of honey and in turn, can influence the weight of honey per gallon. An in depth explanation on honey weight can be found at this link HOW MUCH DOES A GALLON OF HONEY WEIGH It's a lengthy article but answers all of the questions we are frequently asked.
DARK WILDFLOWER HONEY
This dark satin honey has a rich caramel flavor. Dark Wildflower honey stays in the hive until the end of September so the flavor reflects a mixture of tree, shrub and flower nectar. Dark Wildflower honey oxidizes in the hive; this increases the mineral and vitamin content; it also has a full spectrum of pollen. Many people take a tablespoon of this honey twice daily as a natural allergy remedy.
RETAIL RAW HONEY
$13 16oz = 1 lb @ $13 per lb
$19 36oz = 2.25 lbs @ $8.44 per lb
$34 96oz = 6lbs @ $5.66 per lb
USES: Dark Wildflower is a perfect complement to coffee, smoothies, oatmeal or yogurt. Drizzle it over fresh fruit or cheese. It is an excellent baker’s choice for pies, cobblers and artisan breads. Chefs may consider this rich honey for barbecue sauces, sweet & sour glazes and marinades.
SOURWOOD HONEY
An award winning culinary honey, this single source honey is known for it's light, buttery flavor, and mild hint of anise. The origin is a majestic, indigenous Sourwood tree which was named by Appalachian Trail pioneers for it's tart edible leaves. Only experienced beekeepers with hundreds of hives and access to mature forests in high elevations are able to harvest a large supply of Sourwood honey. We sell Sourwood year round to restaurants, brewers, shops and farmers market families.
RETAIL RAW HONEY
$13 16oz = 1 lb @ $13 per lb
$19 36oz = 2.25 lbs @ $8.44 per lb
$34 96oz = 6lbs @ $5.66 per lb
USES: Ideal for savory dishes – fish, meat or poultry glazes and sauces. An interesting addition to bakery goods. Pairs beautifully with Cornish hen, salmon, charcuterie cheeses, fresh breads and fresh or dried fruits.
TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN HONEY
A summer wildflower honey with a light floral flavor and copper color. This honey is a fine mixture of early blooming and summer trees, bushes and wildflowers; it has a seasonal spectrum of pollen. Many people take a tablespoon of this honey twice daily as a natural allergy remedy.
RETAIL RAW HONEY
$13 16oz = 1 lb @ $13 per lb
$19 36oz = 2.25 lbs @ $8.44 per lb
$34 96oz = 6lbs @ $5.66 per lb
USES: A perfect alternative to sugar, Tennessee Mountain is sweeter than our Sourwood and Dark Wildflower. This honey is ideal in dessert dishes, hot and iced tea, hot cereal, and on pancakes and for dipping sauces.