Producer

At They Keep Bees we raise queens and nucleus hives for sale for new beekeepers. We teach beekeeping courses to beginning and intermediate beekeepers from our home apiaries at Yard Birds Farm. We lead hive tours and host campers and folks seeking quiet, peaceful retreat. We produce wax, honey and propolis products too.
Off the farm we offer tailored courses, consultations, mentorship and community supported beekeeping services. We conduct research collaboratively with farmers and beekeepers in MA, NY and FL.
Come visit, or get in touch to learn more!

Raising resilient & adaptive hives:
I'm restoring a relationship with bees that isn’t rooted in industrial agriculture. About 100 years ago, apiaries began to favor one species of bees: large, yellow, hyperproductive, docile bees. While these bees are easy to work with, they’re often inbred, genetically modified, and susceptible to colony collapse.

Genetically Diverse:
I work with wild and domesticated bees resistant to Varroa mites. They’re often smaller, darker, and have more variable behavior. But most important? They’re more resilient.

These hives are more biodiverse and adaptive to localized bioregions and they can help move the industry forward, ensuring that the bees are equipped with the characteristics that safeguard their survival because bees are more than a tool.

Collaborative:
The industry is changing - while demand is constant, it’s becoming harder to keep healthy colonies and stay in business. Traditionally, it’s been hard to get established in the industry without a mentor, yet mentorship can be near impossible to find.

In the same way that bees communicate through consensus building, our industry is stronger when we pool information. We must collectively foster the next generation of beekeepers. I work to uplift the work of talented beekeepers doing incredible work in the field.

I collaborate with other apiaries and farms, host events and courses, and share information.