History
THE ROCKY RIVER BEES STORY
____________________________________
2000: PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
At the time, I had never been in a bee hive, and for that matter, I didn’t even know an active beekeeper.
But I did have curiosity and I ordered a package of bees out of the back of a magazine.
I built my hives and started with a 3 pound package of “3 Banded Italian Bees” from Georgia delivered by US Mail.
Pittsboro, NC – Spring 2001
____________________________________
2000-2010: A DECADE OF HARD KNOCKS
Good times, bad times…
Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way- and there has been plenty of that!
One hive, two hives, three hives… ZERO! And back again.
There are so many variables in beekeeping:
Diseases, parasites, weather, nutrition…
It has been said that Apiculture is the “Chess” of Agriculture.
And like Chess, Apiculture is something that is never fully mastered.
There is always something new to be learned!
I began to take things seriously and educated myself by reading lots of books, listening to podcasts,
watching video lectures, and immersing myself in all things related to honey bees.
I joined the Chatham County Beekeepers and the NC State Beekeepers Association,
eventually earning my NC Master Beekeeper designation in 2017.
____________________________________
2010: ROCKY RIVER – ASBURY COMMUNITY, NORTH CAROLINA
6 Miles South of the Circle in Pittsboro (as a bee flies)
15 acres near the banks of the scenic Rocky River in beautiful Chatham County, North Carolina.
The perfect place for honey bees to call “home”…
Moved 3 hives from Pittsboro and the “Rocky River Bee Farm” is born.
The Rocky River near Asbury Community in Chatham County, NC
____________________________________
2015: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
12 Hives and growing fast, “Rocky River Bee Farm” begins expansion.
Rocky River Bee Farm – Summer 2015
____________________________________
2016: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
28 Hives and growing…
____________________________________
2017: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
Operations growing up to 4 Chatham County Locations
Monster Hive! This one produced almost 100 pounds of honey
____________________________________
2018: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
Winter 2017-18 was devastating: Suffered almost 50% losses!
Much of the year was spent rebuilding stock and overcoming challenges.
30+ Hives – 6 Chatham County Locations
____________________________________
2019: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
Added new site at Huckleberry Trail Farm and began pollinating pumpkins.
____________________________________
2021: ROCKY RIVER BEE FARM
Maintaining many hives out of 8 sites around Chatham County.
Started the first “Pollination Station” in Chatham Park in Pittsboro, NC.
