Rich Valley Apiary: Turning organic honey into self-care products

Cameron County | Elk Country of the PA Wilds

By LaKeshia Knarr

Rich Valley Apiary can best be described as a family affair.

Ryan Magaro, his wife Brandi, and their children are beekeepers in Cameron County, PA – and together they not only raise bees; they harvest the bees’ sweet honey into various byproducts.

The family’s bees are raised organically in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds, without treatment of chemicals or exposure to pesticides.

In addition to raising bees on their own property, the family works with a neighboring farmer to raise another set of bees nearby.

From the hives, the Magaros harvest local raw wildflower honey to produce the beeswax candles, homemade soaps, lotions, and lip balms that Rich Valley Apiary is known for.

And their production process has recently changed.

After years of making their products out of their home kitchen – where, when dinnertime came, space got tight – the family has invested in a new studio.

A former church nearby now serves as the hub of Rich Valley Apiary activities.

The basement is the workshop – where the Magaros can be found mixing their ingredients, curing products and preparing them for sale. And big plans are in store for the main floor of the former church down the road as well.

The larger work area allows for new methods of making.

Ryan explained that, now, the family will be able to up production and create even more of their honey-based products.

Learn more about Rich Valley Apiary or leave the company a recommendation on their Wilds Cooperative of PA profile!

RECENT MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

• 
  Judy Schrader: Creating small, but very mighty art
  Judy Schrader’s love for art began when she was just a child, and it soon grew into a lifetime of creation. Based in Warren County in the Allegheny National Forest and Surrounds landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds, her art has ranged from boundless wilderness scenes to miniature details of the wonders of nature.
• 
  Centre Foundation: Bringing the community to the front and ‘Centre’
  For over 40 years the Centre Foundation has been making a huge difference in the communities of Centre County, located in the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds region. Roughly $49 million has been invested in their communities through grants, programs, and scholarship funds, and that number is still climbing. Their mission is simple: “Centre Foundation fosters a culture of giving, supports and empowers nonprofits, and sparks positive community change.” 
• 
  Deane Center for the Performing Arts: A Generous Gift That Keeps On Giving
  Wellsboro is known as being one of the most charming towns in Pennsylvania, and part of its charm lies in how businesses line that iconic gas-lit Main Street – including a top-notch performing arts center. Whether you want to watch an amazing show or concert or even perform in a show yourself, look no further than the Deane Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Wellsboro, nestled in the Pine Creek Valley and PA Grand Canyon landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds.