Fir Farm’s Christmas trees meet White Dog Apiary’s honey delights in Newfield

Nestled in the serene landscapes of Newfield, the Fir Farm Christmas tree farm, now in its 30th year, stands as a beacon of holiday tradition. The festive allure of the farm is complemented by the presence of White Dog Apiary, a local producer of high-quality, small-batch honey and hive products deeply rooted in the community and rich in history.

As the holiday cheer unfolds, the Fir Farm and White Dog Apiary invite one and all to partake in the simple joys of the season — be it through selecting the perfect Christmas tree or savoring the natural sweetness of locally produced honey — right here in the heart of Newfield. 

Open for the season through Christmas, the farm offers the perfect opportunity for cutting down a fresh tree and indulging in light shopping. The White Dog Apiary’s pop-up shop opened at the farm, located at 486 Shaffer Road, Nov. 24 and features an array of holiday candles and a variety of honey options to enjoy.

Mike and Cathy Griggs have been the proprietors of White Dog Apiary since the 1990s. Mike, a retired entomologist, has been the sole beekeeper. According to Cathy, White Dog Apiary has been setting up at the Fir Farm for 10 to 15 years  

“We just love it,” Cathy said. “We see families come in, and they go and pick out their Christmas tree and cut it down and bring it to the barn, and then it gets all wrapped up to go, and it’s an amazing memory.”

The Fir Farm offers homemade wreaths and the experience of cutting your own Christmas tree. In the spring, owner Mark Ramos planted 500 trees, which will take eight to ten years to mature, but for now, there are plenty of trees for sale. With a service to bore a hole in the bottom of trees for a stand, the farm ensures that every detail is covered for the perfect Christmas experience. The Fir Farm’s owner has been running the farm himself up until this year. 

“I managed to keep the farm up myself,” Ramos said. “This is the first year I hired help.”

The synergy between the Fir Farm and White Dog Apiary encapsulates the essence of the holiday market. White Dog Apiary offers products such as 100% beeswax candles, honey, wax-based balms and other bee-derived goods. Their candles are offered in several different molds, and they keep expanding their collection. Recently, they added a frog and an owl.

According to Cathy, in good years, they extract 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of honey. This highlights the extensive process of bottling, labeling and product development that goes into their craft. 

At the Fir Farm, White Dog Apiary has several small jars of honey, beeswax balms and candles of many different shapes that make thoughtful Christmas gifts.

According to Cathy, the apiary offers a thick beeswax bomb that works well for working hands. Another beeswax balm, Queen Bee Body Butter, was developed for highly sensitive skin. 

White Dog Apiary’s offerings are not limited to the tree farm. With a honey stand outside their house, Mike and Cathy provide local honey, beeswax balms and candles year round. To spread even more holiday cheer, they are participating in a holiday market Dec. 16 at Louella’s Place, featuring a newly ordered Christmas gnome candle mold in two different patterns.

Visitors to the Fir Farm can enjoy these special offerings until Christmas, making their holiday season a little sweeter and brighter.