Honey talks
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Frequently asked questions,
Un-BEE-table answers
06. How did you become a Certified Master Beekeeper?
05. Where are you located? Do you offer local pickup?
04. What are your return policies?
03. What are your shipping rates and policies?
02. What happens if my honey crystallizes?
01. When do you restock honey, soap, or skincare products?
07. Do you treat your bees?
08. Do you have bees or colonies dying?
09. Do you offer online beekeeping classes?
15. How are you neurodiverse?
14. Why bees?
13. What services do you offer?
12. Are you part of any beekeeping associations?
11. Do you follow food safety precautions with your honey?
10. What do I do if I have live honeybees on my property?
16. Do you still do photography?
17. How many beehives do you have?
18. Do you travel for public speaking?
Beekeeping is seasonal work in Utah and honey availability depends on many factors to be successful. Honey harvest times can be difficult to predict, but honey is typically harvested between August-October and available within that time frame and around the winter holiday season. It continues to be available until it sells out and is restocked annually. Soap and skincare products are restocked when needed. Some skincare products are not available between May-September due to to higher temperatures and high risks of products melting when shipped.
01. When do you restock honey, soap, or skincare products?
The nature of raw honey means it can crystalize. Crystallization is completely normal. Some honey crystallizes faster than others, but eventually, all honey will crystalize. That does not mean it should be thrown out (honey never gets old). Crystallization is a combination of the types of sugars in the nectars collected at that particular time. Crystallization is also affected by the raw nature of honey. If it has more pollen, wax, and propolis in it, those will form crystals quicker.
If your honey crystallizes this is an indication that it is truly raw and has all the benefits of raw honey. When Where the Bees Buzzed Honey is harvested in fall typically crystallizes much quicker than spring honey based on what the bees forage at the time.
When your honey does crystalize just put the bottle in a hot water bath (not boiling) and let it sit for 30 minutes. It will liquefy and be squeezable again. Some people love crystalized honey as is and spread it on toast.
02. What happens if my honey crystallizes?
USPS shipping is available for domestic purchases only and varies based on weight and distance. Read the shipping policy for more details.
03. What are your shipping rates and policies?
Where the Bees Buzzed Honey guarantees the quality of its products. Where the Bees Buzzed is happy to replace any item(s) in the unlikely event that they might be damaged during transit. Items that have been opened or used are not returnable and as such all sales are considered final. Read the returns policy for more details.
04. What are your return policies?
I live in the eastern mountains of Utah. My apiaries are close to Vernal, UT and honey is available for local pickup there.
05. Where are you located? Do you offer local pickup?
A Certified Master Beekeeper is one who has completed a master beekeeper program with a deep understanding of bee anatomy, biology, beekeeping practices, beekeeping as a business, and how to conduct scientific research and experiments. I became a Certified Master Beekeeper through the University of Montana's program, which I recommend as a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about beekeeping.
06. How did you become a Certified Master Beekeeper?
I initially started my beekeeping career with a treatment-free approach. As I gained knowledge and began experimenting more, I saw, first-hand, the difference monitoring and treating for mites, nosema, and other pests or diseases can make. Through my Master Beekeeping program I was able to fully look at the scientific research and justification for treatments, which changed my mind and approach. Now, my bees and I are more successful than ever.
07. Do you treat your bees?
Becoming a Master Beekeeper has helped me mitigate colony losses with deep knowledge of anatomy, biology, beekeeping, and science. I still have winter losses, like many beekeepers, but these have gone drastically down as my knowledge has increased.
08. Do you have bees or colonies dying?
Not at this time, but I do offer one-on-one mentoring services which can be virtual.
09. Do you offer online beekeeping classes?
I offer live honey bee removal local to Vernal and northeastern Utah. However, if you have live bees on your property (a swarm or an established hive), call your local beekeepers association. They will be able to direct you to someone who can help with a humane and safe live bee removal.
10. What do I do if I have live honeybees on my property?
Yes. The honey is raw, which means it is not pasteurized. However, all food safety precautions are taken when harvesting, filtering, and bottling honey. Utah's Cottage Food Program requires all of Utah's honey producers to receive a Food Handler's Certification. I am happy to provide my current certificate upon request.
11. Do you follow food safety precautions with your honey?
Beekeeping associations are largely run by white, cisgender, heterosexual, older men. Until these organizations prioritize better representation of marginalized communities in their organization and publications, I will not be supporting them with my money.
12. Are you part of any beekeeping associations?
Outside of honey, soap, and skincare products available for purchase I offer beekeeping services for public speaking, mentoring other beekeepers, and live honey bee removal in my local area. For those seeking autism advocacy services I offer public speaking for workplaces and events.
13. What services do you offer?
Did you know that many autistic people have special interests? Bees are mine. I love the sensory aspect of hearing them and the smell of the hives. What I love even more is the feminist-led society. I originally got into bees thinking it would help support my other big hobby of gardening, but came to love bees just as much!
14. Why bees?
While I don't feel I owe it to anyone to disclose my personal disabilities, I share here to advocate for people like me and the disabled community as a whole. I have both autism and ADHD. I received both diagnoses as an adult. My son is also autistic.
15.How are you neurodiverse?
I was lucky to have spent 15+ years documenting the weddings and families of hundreds of clients. I think photography helped me to get to where I am today, but it is no longer my full-time business. Instead I enjoy spending my weekends and evenings beekeeping or in the garden. However, I am still in touch with many of my photography clients. Please feel free to reach out and say hi!
16. Do you still do photography?
The amount of beehives in the apiary can vary at different times of the year depending on the season, weather, and the bees' health. There are anywhere from 5-20 beehives in the apiary throughout the year.
17. How many beehives do you have?
Yes. In-person public speaking rates include the cost of domestic travel for both autism and beekeeping speaking events.
18. Do you travel for public speaking?
I know there is a distinct lack of representation in the beekeeping industry and autistic community of anyone who is perceived as not what society normalizes. I commit to re-defining normal as diverse and inclusive through my business as much as I can. What once started as a mission to represent non-traditional weddings as a photographer became one that believes you shouldn't have to put 'LGBTQ+' or 'same-sex' in front of the word wedding to find equality online. No matter where I find myself working, I continue to practice the same DEI initiatives to the best of my abilities. I believe Black Lives Matter. I believe I live in a country built with stolen labor and stolen land. I commit to prioritizing inclusion and racial justice both in business and outside of it.
Where the Bees Buzzed is a business that commits to being a safe space and seeks to include and advocate for all identities and cultures within its services.
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Mission statement
Diversity, equity, & Inclusion are a priority.
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Core values:
Media in the world, normalizes being young, white, thin, cisgender, able-bodied, and heterosexual. It considers anything else ‘other.’ Media does not accurately reflect the diverse people in our world and I hope to have the opportunity to change that narrative and ensure that everyone has representation and a voice through their experiences with me whether that be through beekeeping or the autism and ADHD communities.
1. Representation & Voice
I believe human beings have personal autonomy over their own bodies and therefore seek to celebrate all the unique ways people love and live in their own bodies. My commitment to bodily integrity extends into interacts with you upon meeting or in-person.
As a neurodiverse person I am also sensitive to the social anxieties and sensory processing struggles that physical touch can cause so I will always ask for permission before shaking a hand, hugging, or giving a high five - and I won’t take it personally if you decline.
Finally, I understand some populations may continue to be more vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 despite vaccinations. To ensure the comfort and safety of others in-person I am vaccinated and committed to continued vaccination and will wear a mask at your request.
2. Bodily Integrity
Cultural appropriation is best defined as a problematic power dynamic where members of a dominant group or culture (who have privilege) take or use elements from a culture of people who are marginalized or oppressed by the dominant culture. Often times these the dominant culture benefits from the use of these elements with a gain in power, influence, notoriety, or income. Cultural appropriation is widespread in photography, social media, and beyond. It does damage by letting us show love for a culture, but remaining prejudiced against its people. When members of a dominant culture utilize traditions, tools, and rituals from an oppressed culture it furthers the problems of falsehoods, stereotyping, and systemic racism - especially when published online, where stories are often misunderstood. As such, I do not partake in events with teepees, dream catchers, jumping the broom, henna, or other cultural traditions unless the event is led by people from those cultures.By doing this I hope to prioritize a commitment to justice for oppressed groups over my own dominant culture’s privilege.
3. Cultural Appropriation
Social media, blogging, and photography are about storytelling and one of my core values is to not manufacture narratives or photo opportunities for the sake of the opportunity. I want to tell stories about beekeeping or neurodiversity as if its unfolding in a documentary. By doing this I focus on content that’s created with purpose instead of simply for the sake of creation.
4. Creating Content with Meaning
