Backyard Buzz in Bucks County is spreading the good word on bees. This PA Preferred® mother-daughter owned honey company was born of a passion for pollinators that’s grown into a business of raw, artisanal wildflower honey, beeswax products, backyard bee boxes and educational offerings.
Karen Zebrowski and Nikki Zebrowski-Beck
We learned all about Backyard Buzz by chatting with Nikki Zebrowski-Beck and Karen Zebrowski, co-owners who manage all facets of this artisanal honey company with dedication and careful attention to the needs and behaviors of their tiny teammates. Nikki is a Cornell Certified Master Beekeeper and Certified Pollinator Steward whose astounding photography and tidbits of knowledge light up their website and Facebook and Instagram pages. Karen is the creative force behind the hand-dipped beeswax luminaries, gift boxes and other artful specialty products. They enjoy educating others about co-existing with pollinators, sustainable beekeeping and the fascinating behavior of hive dwellers..
Backyard Buzz joined PA Preferred over three years ago. Nikki says, “Being part of the PA Preferred program connects Backyard Buzz to something much larger than our own small batch apiaries. It ties us directly to Pennsylvania’s proud agricultural community. The program helps showcase the value of local products and highlights the hard work of small producers, who care deeply about quality, sustainability and the land we share.”
Backyard Buzz’s emphasis on sustainability indeed runs deep. Nikki’s beekeeping methods prioritize long-term colony health and she promotes community backyard pollination with bee boxes. The honey products are packaged in glass whenever possible. Backyard Buzz even offers BeeSustainable beeswax food wraps to help people minimize plastic waste.
Nikki says, “At Backyard Buzz, every part of what we do reflects a deep respect for pollinators – both honeybees and native bees alike. As a Master Beekeeper and Pollinator Steward, I manage our colonies intentionally small, using integrated pest practices that support hive health and reduce the risk of disease or virus transmission to native bee populations. By focusing on smaller, healthier colonies, we create balance within the ecosystem rather than strain it.”
Backyard Buzz’s beekeeping and production is all done in Bucks County, with notes of regional flora expressed in the honey. “Our honey is harvested in small batches throughout the season, each reflecting the changing blooms of Bucks County,” says Nikki. “We bottle it in specialty glass – historic Muth jars – the first ever used for honey. These bottles honor the tradition and craftsmanship of early beekeepers while showcasing the natural beauty of the honey inside.
The glowing elixir is available online and also found at artisanal markets like Belleville Market (Northampton County) and Mercantile in Doylestown in addition to various pop-ups that Backyard Buzz attends. Nikki finds that the PA Preferred check mark helps distinguish her products. She says, “Having the PA Preferred logo on our honey products reinforces that our goods are truly local – harvested right here in Bucks County from colonies that thrive among Pennsylvania’s diverse wildflowers. It builds trust with customers who want to know where their food comes from, and it allows them to support local beekeeping and pollinator health with every purchase.”
Backyard Buzz’s commitment to sustainable methods on a small scale connect it to likeminded businesses throughout the state, growing and making fresh, local products with a long term vision for the land and its creatures. Expanding and promoting this network is what PA Preferred is all about. “We love that PA Preferred’s mission celebrates both tradition and innovation in Pennsylvania agriculture,” says Nikki. “It helps small businesses like ours gain visibility, share our story and contribute to a movement that values local craftsmanship, environmental stewardship and community roots.”
Head to Backyard Buzz’s website for raw wildflower honey, honey confections, beeswax products and all kinds of art and information focused on Pennsylvania’s pollinators.
This series was created in collaboration with PA Preferred.
PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s statewide branding program that promotes locally grown and processed food and other agricultural products.
- Photos: Backyard Buzz
