Where Bees Come First
Did you know that a honey bee’s brain is less than two cubic millimeters in size, yet it has the densest neuropile tissue of any animal? That’s just one honey bee. Magnify that by 50,000 and you’ve got the highly intelligent superorganism that is the honey bee colony!
We revere our domesticated “co-workers”, and strive to support them as they contribute immeasurable value to our ecosystems and food systems as pollinators.
At the Evergreen Beekeeping Company, we raise the standard of care by prioritizing bee-centric Beekeeping practices. Integrity, authenticity, and curiosity are at the core of our stewardship.
Not a stock photo!
This is us!
These are 10 guarantees that set us
apart from others beekeepers:
We inspect our hives bare handed most of the time! The increased tactile feedback we get from not wearing thick gloves keeps us extra accountable for our actions. As a result, inspections are less stressful for our bees. Having a neutral or positive association with human interaction helps maintain a colonies docile temperament - which is great for us, and any visitors!
One
We thoroughly inspect each hive 2-3 times a month; not too much to over-disturb, not too little that swarms can’t be prevented or issues go unnoticed. We also use innovative recordkeeping software to analyze inspection data.
Two
Our honey is ethically harvested in small batches, and is unpasteurized.
Processing honey without heat (pasteurization) preserves its beneficial enzymes, antioxidants, and anti-microbial properties.
Unlike milk, honey is not pasteurized for food safety, but rather to delay the onset of crystallization. Crystallization is a natural part of how honey ages, and doesn’t affect it’s nutritional benefits.
Three
We prioritize bee health by thoroughly monitoring for pest, pathogens, and disease. We are trained to tackle issues proactively using an array of cultural, organic, and chemical controls. As needed, we implement a bespoke management strategy for each hive.
Beyond the health of our colonies, diligent management helps reduce spread of pests, pathogens, and disease to other honey bee colonies (managed or feral), as well as suspectible wild native bee populations.
Four
We are transparent with our partners about the quality and state of their hives - never to shame, never to judge. Every season, site, and colony is different; experiencing unique highs and lows comes with the territory!
We value being honest with our partners, and sharing all aspects of the beekeeping experience with them - the twists are often where the most interesting learning happens!
Five
We source disease-resistant honey bee stock, bred locally in Ontario, to help give our bees a genetic advantage. Locally bred Queens tend to be better adapted to survive our hard winters.
Additionally, this encourages ongoing research, and supports our local beekeeping industry.
Six
We never stop learning! In an ever-changing landscape with many evolving threats and concerns, keeping up with the latest research and best practices helps us provide our partners, mentees, and bees with the best possible service.
Seven
Eight
We don’t inspect bees in stressful weather. We maintain some flexibility in our schedules so that we have the option to work around undesireable weather as to not compromise the wellness of our colonies - and ourselves!
Nine
We take biosecurity seriously. As domesticated livestock, honey bee colonies are suspectible to several biohazards - especially if kept in close proximity and/or in large numbers. We are very mindful of our responsibility to mitigate these risks. Sanitizing hive tools between inspections, quarantining caught swarms, using closed-feeding systems, and cycling out own comb to reduce pesticide residues in the hive are among the many habits we implement with biosecurity in mind.
We feel a true sense of vocation in our work with bees! The Evergreen Beekeeping Co. was founded to create a space where authenticity is rewarded, intellectual curiousity is celebrated, and beekeeping to the highest possible standard is a priority. It is our goal to ensure these qualities shine through in all our service offerings.
