H 410-758-6864 · C 410-310-6670
471 Owens Rd · Queen Anne MD 21657
History
Bill
and Mary Bartholomy started the bee business in 1990 formerly known as
Batholomy Bees. Bill got started with honeybees because his garden did
not do well one year. He planted watermelons and to his surprise none
developed. This puzzled Bill so he went to the local extension agent and
he told him this happened because their was a shortage of wild honeybees.
He told Bill to look into renting a hive. Bill found someone with honeybees.
The man told Bill he was actually looking to sell his hives and had a
friend who wanted to sell his as well, so Bill bought about 25 hives not
knowing what he was getting into. Mary recalls telling him he was crazy
and she did not want anything to do with them, but curiosity got the best
of her! They spent the next 18 years as beekeepers learning through alot
of trial and error with their children Chris and Sarah by their side.
They built their hives to around 200 did pollination for farmers and were
a favorite at local fairs.
In loving memory of William "Bill" Bartholomy
August 12th 1955- March 30th 2009
How we got started: David is a member of tri-county ruritan.
Every month they have a speaker come to the club with a demonstration.
Bill Bartholomy who was also a member did a bee presentation. This amazed
David and he asked if he could go out with him one day. He did and Bill
handed him one of the frames out of the hive. David thought they would
fly all over and attack him but he was surprised to see how calm and focused
on working they were. Ever since then he was hooked. He came home and
told his wife he was going to help Bill on the side. Gwen had the same reaction
as Mary. She thought he was crazy! David continued to work with Bill for
the next five years until they were given the oppurtunity to buy them out.