Castle Cove, Sydney · #beebalcony
Small-batch honey
from the #beebalcony.
Two hives. One balcony. Raw honey from Castle Cove, made by someone who is figuring it out as she goes.
HOW THIS started
Not a beekeeper.
Becoming one.
I wasn't looking for a business.
I was looking for a hobby. Beekeeping seemed like it might be relaxing, something fun to do with the kids.
It started with two hives on a tiny balcony in Castle Cove, a lot of curiosity and absolutely no idea what I was doing. Every batch is small because the hives are small. Every jar is numbered because we count them by hand. The photos aren't insta-worthy, the learning curve is steep and frustrating.
The mistakes are part of the story. So is the honey.
When you buy Stickybeak, you're buying honey from two hives on a Castle Cove balcony. It's made by someone who's still learning, still asking questions, and endlessly fascinated by what the bees are doing next.
2
Active Hives
On a residential balcony in Castle Cove. Producing genuinely distinct honey.
50
JarS per batch
That's how many the hive produce per batch. Every jar is numbered by hand.
100%
RAW & UNFILTERED
No heat. No additives. This is exactly what the bees made.
The beekeeper
I am not a natural at this.
I teach at Whitecliffe The Fashion Institute and write for Mamamia. I train jujitsu, I'm currently one of the most junior belts, despite being one of the oldest people in the dojo. I started keeping bees.
One day I'll find a relaxing hobby. But not today.
I am weirdly drawn to hobbies that are, well, challenging. Ultra-marathons, sign me up. Triathlons, yes please. Beekeeping, sounds fun. I do love a goal, and figuring stuff out as I go along.
Stickybeak exists because the learning process itself is worth documenting, and well, sharing. One harvest took place on a clothes airer in the bathroom because I was hiding from the bees on the balcony. The honey was extraordinary. The photos were not. I posted them anyway.
Location
Castle Cove
North Shore, Sydney, NSW
EXTRACTION METHOD
Harvested by hand
Hive type
Italian honey bees
Balcony hives, urban foraging.
What I do when not beekeeping
Teach. Write. Roll.
Fashion lecturer, Mamamia writer, jujitsu blue belt
Seasons producing
Second summer harvest
Summer 25/26 Batch 02.
From hive to jar,
honestly.
How Stickybeak honey gets made
Step 1
The hives do their thing
Castle Cove bees forage a 5km radius of North Shore gardens, parks, and the local golf course. We keep watch and mostly try not to get in the way.
Foraging radius: ~5km
Step 2
Harvest when it's ready
Not when it's convenient. When the bees have capped the frames and the moisture content is right. Small batches mean we can wait rather than a production schedule.
Timing: when the bees say so
Step 3
Cold
extraction
No heat. Ever. Heat destroys the enzymes and pollen that make raw honey worth buying. We extract cold, strain only as much as needed and let it settle.
Temperature: ambient, always
Step 4
Bottle and deliver
Every jar is hand-filled and labelled before heading out the door. We deliver locally around Castle Cove and Sydney's North Shore, or you can collect directly from us.
Delivery: Local, by hand
WHAT THE LOCALS SAY
"Love seeing the bees on my morning walk."
Gaye S, 2025
"Best local honey we've found on the North Shore."
Ian W, 2024
Things you need to know
Free Pickup or Delivery
Free local pickup from Castle Cove. Just select pickup at checkout and we'll arrange a time. We deliver to Castle Cove and surrounding North Shore suburbs. Delivery is free. Questions? DM us at [email protected]
Common Questions about Raw Honey
Why does my honey look cloudy or solid?
Raw honey granulates naturally, it hasn't gone off. Sit the jar in warm water for a few minutes if you want it liquid again. Don't microwave it.
Is it safe to eat?
Raw honey is not recommended for children under 12 months, but is fine for everyone else.
How should I store it?
Room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Not in the fridge.
What's the difference between raw and supermarket honey?
Supermarket honey is typically heat-treated and filtered, which extends shelf life but destroys enzymes and pollen. Ours isn't.
Don't miss the next harvest.
Batches sell out. That's small-batch bee maths. Leave your email and you'll know before anyone else.
Current batch
Summer 25/26 is available now. While you're here, you may as well grab one before the newsletter crowd gets in first next time.
330g The OG
450g The Salvaged
Hand-numbered, raw & unfiltered
Free local pickup and delivery Castle Cove and Sydney North Shore and northern beaches.
STICKYBEAK
Smalll-batch honey from #beebalcon#beebalcony.
#beebalcony. Castle Cove, Sydney, NSW.
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