E&M Gold Beekeepers

Mary Kosenski’s connection to bees and agriculture began long before E&M Gold Beekeepers was founded. Raised in an agricultural family, she grew up alongside her father, a sideline beekeeper who worked hives in both Maryland and Georgia. Those early experiences instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for honeybees, the rhythms of the seasons, and the quiet craft of working in harmony with nature. Later, Mary continued that connection through her work at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, where she further deepened her understanding of agriculture and the vital role pollinators play in our food system. The path that eventually led Mary and Ed to start E&M Gold Beekeepers came from an unexpected source — the film Ulee's Gold. The story of a beekeeper finding purpose, healing, and connection through his work struck a deep chord with them. The very next day, that inspiration turned into action when Ed picked up their first hive from a beekeeper in Vineland, New Jersey — and just like that, E&M Gold Beekeepers was born. Today, Mary hand-pours every beeswax candle offered by E&M Gold Beekeepers. Working in small batches in her Tinton Falls workshop, she creates everything from classic tapers to detailed figurines and pillars using natural beeswax. Each candle is made with careful attention to form, texture, and the warm golden glow that only real beeswax can provide. Over time, another meaningful part of the business began to grow. More than a decade ago, a handful of customers asked Mary and Ed if they would create small jars of their honey as favors for weddings and baby showers. What began with just a few events quietly blossomed into something much larger. Since then, E&M Gold Beekeepers has been honored to create honey favors for more than 3,000 celebrations — weddings, baby showers, and gatherings centered around gratitude, family, and new beginnings.