“I bring in up to $3,000 a month selling honey!”
“I’ve always had a love of nature, gardening and bees. About 10 years ago, I wanted to improve my gardening and help the bees, so I bought a beehive and equipment. I learned about beekeeping from books, YouTube videos, classes and my local beekeepers association. When people heard I had bees and asked to buy honey, I thought it would be a great side gig.
“I first checked in with my state about the rules for selling honey, and I sourced basic canning jars and packaging. At first I had a regular beehive, but it’s labor intensive and it can be stressful for the bees because they can be crushed each time the honey supers (the boxes bees store honey in) are moved. So I purchased the Flow Hive, a kit that allows you to harvest the honey without opening the hive, moving the honey supers or disturbing the bees. The honey flows right into the jar—it made the work so much easier!
“To spread the word and network, I attend master beekeeper events, where I educate people about bees and how we can support them. I also post photos on Instagram (@GardenVarietyBees) and have 12,000 followers. Through these experiences, I have other potential opportunities in the works. There are companies who want me to promote their products, and I have been asked to be a lead author on a book about bees.
“I’m passionate about bees, and working with them is so calming! Now through July is my busiest time of year and though my revenue varies, I’ve made up to $3,000 in one month.”