We Love Bees
They say if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. After working for 35 years, our founder retired and took up beekeeping.
As his mountain apiary grew, he faced a problem: what to do with hundreds of pound of honey? Today Hawk Mountain Homestead produces some of the best comb honey you can imagine and a limited supply of delicious bottled honey.
On behalf of our busy bees and their hardworking beekeeper, we thank you for your business.
Mountain Goodness
The home apiary of Hawk Mountain Honey is nestled in the woodland valley at the junction of Hawk Mountain, Little Hawk Mountain, and Lightwood Mountain in Mitchell County, N.C. Located at an altitude of 3,600 feet, our bees depend on the natural pollen and nectar of native wildflowers and trees to make their honey. They drink crystal-clear spring water to quench their thirst.
Depending on the time of year, our bees may visit maple, tulip poplar, locust, basswood, and the famous sourwood trees as well as apple trees, wild cherry trees, blueberries, blackberry bushes, and a host of wildflowers and flowering bushes. Because the apiary is located in the middle of a forested area and is surrounded by conservation land, our honey is not sourced from farmland and commercial crops that may be treated with pesticides or herbicides.
When sold in a jar or squeeze bottle, our honey is raw and lightly filtered to remove a majority of the wax and other impurities. Our honey is not pasteurized, heat treated, or mixed with honey from other sources. It has all the original enzymes that give honey its antibacterial properties and the pollen particles that give honey its reputation for preventing hay fever and other seasonal allergies.
When you buy Hawk Mountain Honey, you can be sure of getting locally grown, minimally processed, pure honey from bees (and trees) born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains and Mitchell County, N.C.
Free Range Eggs from Happy Hens
Our small flock of hens have never seen the inside of a cage. Our chickens spend the night in a spacious, custom-built coop that is designed to protect them from coyotes, feral dogs, raccoons, skunks, mink, snakes, and any other predators. The coop has an automated door that opens after sunrise and our chickens spend most of the day outdoors. When the weather is bad, the chickens can retreat to the coop, but most prefer to wait out storms in the shelter underneath it.
Varied Diet
Our chickens are considered free range and have the opportunity to forage for bugs. They are fed an assortment of greens, including clover, grasses, seeds, weeds, flowers, and garden leftovers, as well as vegetables, some fruits, and select kitchen scraps. Their diet varies seasonally. For example, they are fed apples primarily in September through November when the locally-grown fruit is falling from the trees.
To ensure good health and superior laying, our chickens are given a high-quality commercial layer pellet on a free-choice basis, meaning that the food pellets are always available and they can eat commercial feed whenever they want. In the height of grasshopper season, they tend to eat fewer pellets. On a cold rainy day, they tend to stick close to home and eat more layer feed.
Free Range vs. Organic
Because we raise bees, we avoid pesticides and other chemical treatments that could impact our hives or the quality of our honey. This commitment benefits our chickens as well.
While our chickens are free range, we are not certified organic, nor can we guarantee that everything they are fed is organic. For example, if we feed them an old Halloween pumpkin or leftover lettuce, we cannot be sure if it was organically grown. We do our best, however, to give our chickens a happy life, good nutrition and keep them healthy.
Our flock of Red Star and Black Star hens also includes a rooster named Rooster Joe. In addition to protecting the flock from hawks and other predators, we feel the presence of a rooster helps increase the fertility of the hens and encourages them to lay more frequently. It also allows us to raise our own chicks when the time comes to strengthen or expand the flock.
Join our mailing list for information on our next egg sale. Please contact us if you are interested in buying eggs to incubate and hatch, baby chicks, or pullets (young chickens) to develop into layers. Depending on the time of year, we may be able to accommodate your request. It’s best to order well ahead of time.
At this time, we do not sell chicken meat for human consumption.
Buy Eggs or Honey
Because we have a limited supply of eggs and honey available, we sell direct to a curated list of customers. Goods may be picked up in Bakersville, N.C., every other week or by appointment.
Limited quantities of our products may also be found at Just Local, 35 N Mitchell Ave, Bakersville, NC 28705. Availability may vary.
To be notified of sales dates, please fill out this form.
Our current pricing as of January 1, 2024 is below.
Eggs
One dozen: $5
Honey
1-pound of 2023 honey: $15
Sold in a plastic squeeze bottle or glass jar
24 ounces of 2023 honey: $24
Sold in a glass pint jar
2-pounds of 2023 honey: $29
Sold in a plastic squeeze bottle
3-pounds of 2023 honey: $40
Sold in a glass quart jar
Comb Honey
(Limited supply available)
4 ounce: $6
10-12 ounce: $15
16 to 18-ounces: $18
Full medium frame: $45
Weight varies but is approximately 3 pounds
Chunk Honey
2 pounds 13 ounces of hone, including a large chunk of comb honey: $40
Sold in a glass quart jar
Please note: By law, honey is sold by weight, not fluid ounces.
Please see our disclaimers and warnings.