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I first learned about beekeeping when I was a young boy from my father. Growing up we always had a few hives on the farm. The bees we kept when I was young were more for the family and I don't believe my father ever sold a jar of honey.
Owens Apiaries, (the company) didn't officially start until 2005. That was the first year we actually bought insurance and a business license. However, it was in 2000 that I bought my first package of honey bees and conducted my first bee removal. Since then my little hobby has turned into a small business that is known for its service and dependability.
I have held several official positions in local, state, and regional beekeeping associations. Starting in 2002 I enrolled in the Georgia Master Beekeeper program through the University of Georgia. In 2006 I became the first person in Georgia to complete the highest level of the program, Master Craftsman Beekeeper. To learn more about the Master Beekeeper program you can visit the University of Georgia Honey Bee Program.
By 2008 we added Georgia Bee Removal as a subsidiary to Owens Apiaries. There is no doubt that apiaries, is a difficult word for most people to pronounce much less spell, (Apiaries is plural for Apiary, which means bee farm). It was difficult for us to tell people about our web site, (without spelling it all out) so to prevent confusion we made the addition.
In 2009 we bought Bee's Bee Removal out of Metro Atlanta from Cindy Bee.
Currently I operate anywhere from 60-100 colonies of honey bees. With help from my wife, we harvest and sell our honey from our home.
Certificates & Accomplishments
2016 Georgia Beekeeper of the year
2010 Co-Author book, Honey Bee Removal
2009 Published research in Apidologie, The Leading Journal Devoted to Bee Science
2006 Certified Master Craftsman Beekeeper
2004 Certified Master Beekeeper
2003 Certified Journeyman Beekeeper
2002 Certified Beekeeper
Positions
2011 - 2016 Newsletter Editor Georgia Beekeepers Association
2006 - 2006 Vice President of the Eastern Apiculture Society
2005 - 2016 Webmaster for the Georgia Beekeepers Association
2005 - 2006 President of the Georgia Beekeepers Association
2005 - 2007 Treasure of the Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association
2004 - 2006 Chairman of the Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association
2004 - 2006 Newsletter Editor, Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association.
I remember growing up with bees in the wall of my childhood home and have always wanted to have bees. I was able to get my first two colonies of bees in 2007 and have been hooked ever since. Shortly after getting my first bees I began doing bee removals myself. In 2014 Bill approached me to come to work for Georgia Bee Removal and I jumped at the opportunity.
Since joining Georgia Bee Removal I have been able to travel all over the Southeast to rescue and relocate honey bees.
Teaching about honey bees is another passion I have. I serve as a Staff Instructor at Young Harris Beekeeping Institute in association with the University of Georgia. My schedule allows me to facilitate numerous Fundamentals of Beekeeping programs that teach beekeeping basics. I also encourage mentoring for successful hive management thus boosting bee preservation.
As President of the Tri County Beekeepers Club I worked with elected city officials in Gillsville and obtained grants to establish an apiary in Gillsville City Park. This endeavor brings awareness of honey bees and pollinators to our community and allows unique hands-on educational opportunities to be available to civic and educational organizations in our community. In Jefferson, Georgia, I led the charge to have Jefferson named a Bee City USA. Encouraging residents and raising awareness to create sustainable habitats for native pollinators.
Elected city officials in Gillsville were supportive of me to apply for grants allowing our club to establish an apiary in Gillsville City Park. That also gives a hands on opportunity for anyone interested in our endeavor to bring bee awareness to the community.
Certificates & Accomplishments
2021 Certified Master Beekeeper
2019 Georgia Beekeeper of the Year
2018 Certified Journeyman Beekeeper
2014 Certified Beekeeper
Positions
2018- Present Regional Director for the Georgia Beekeepers Association
2015- Present President of the Tri County Beekeepers.
2014-2015 Vice President of the Tri County Beekeepers