Our family apiary in Aukštaitija – a story of natural honey
Hello, honey and natural product lovers!
In the village of Bukaltiškiai, in our great-grandparents’ homestead surrounded by the nature of Aukštaitija, our family apiary was established – a place where the journey of natural honey began, along with a deep connection to the everyday life of bees. Today, we lovingly continue this work under the brand name Ačiū Medus.
What started with a single beehive has grown into our favorite way to unwind from everyday worries. The first years were special – filled with challenges, experiments, discoveries, and mistakes, as everything was new and unfamiliar.
Our family apiary in Aukštaitija is more than just honey. It's a way of life we discovered through working with bees, learning patience and harmony from their world. This activity became a form of family togetherness – uniting us through both joys and challenges, while letting us reconnect with the rhythm of nature and breathe in the fresh, clean air of the countryside homestead.
It’s hard to describe the feeling when you taste the honey made by the bees you’ve lovingly cared for… With every spoonful, it brings back memories of childhood summers and the tickle of endless meadows under bare feet. That extraordinary meadow honey, where notes of thyme, cornflowers, chamomile, and wildflowers intertwine! And then – the hidden flavors of forest herbs begin to unfold. From blossom to spoon…
It’s a joy to share this natural wonder with you!
Endless possibilities for using honey
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3 moments from our family beekeeping life
1. Family apiary – the beginning of a new story
Our apiary in Aukštaitija began as an opportunity to harvest real honey ourselves, revive our great-grandparents’ homestead, and discover a new and meaningful activity in nature. Curiosity and the desire to learn led us into the world of beekeeping.
2. Family beekeeping – a uniting hobby and work
Beekeeping has involved the whole family in shared activities through which we develop patience, diligence, and responsibility. Together we grow as a team and continue discovering new ways to use natural honey and other bee products.
3. Every step felt like the first
We started beekeeping without experience – everything was new: from the first hive to the first spoonful of honey. We learn by observing, reading, and making mistakes. And little by little, we grow.
4 seasons – what we do in our family apiary throughout the year
Each season in our family apiary in Aukštaitija is filled with different tasks. The rhythm of beekeeping changes together with nature. In winter we prepare equipment, in spring we care for the bees, in summer we extract honey, and in autumn we prepare the hives and bee colonies for the winter season. Below we present a short annual beekeeping calendar.
Winter season work in the apiary
- Frame making
- Frame maintenance
- Wax melting; candle making
- Checking the bees during wintering
Spring season work in the apiary
- Bee treatment
- Preparing the hives for the honey flow
- First honey flow
Summer season work in the apiary
- Main honey flow
- Honey extraction
- Queen replacement
- Brood nest renewal
Autumn season work in the apiary
- Treatment of bees for varroosis
- Feeding the bees
- Preparing the hives for winter
Are there unexpected tasks in the apiary?
Chasing after "escaped" bees is one of the most thrilling tasks for a beekeeper.
Runaway Bees
A common sight from spring to the end of summer.
Catching Bees
If noticed in time, the bees can be caught and transferred to a new hive.
Introducing the Swarm to the Hive
When introducing a swarm, it's important to observe whether the queen bee is present.
Introducing the Swarm to the Hive
It’s calmer when the majority of the swarm has entered the hive.
The Crown of Live Bees
Not all bees rush into the hive… Peaceful once the work is done.