The Carolina Bee Company is really just two people, Todd and Monica Warner, who share a passion for honey bees¹. Todd, the outdoorsy science and nature geek, has always been intrigued by bees, ants, and other swarming social insects. Unsurprisingly, beekeeping has always been peripherally intriguing to him. Out of curiosity, Todd purchased a used beekeeping book² at a library sale in the early 1990s. This book sat on his shelf unread for a decade until 2004 when Todd heard an NPR³ news story outlining the ongoing struggle of beekeepers and bees with the varroa mite⁴. He finally picked up that book and read it.

Todd was immediately intrigued and eventually wound up in a beginning beekeeping course. In short order he bought a ton of equipment and 21,000 honey bees⁵. Todd was suddenly a beekeeper. Monica was a little leery at first but was willing to give the whole "Bee Thing" a try. Monica is now a journeyman beekeeper⁶ as well and loves beekeeping just as much as Todd.

The Carolina Bee Company was born and the rest is apicultural history.

Welcome to the apiary!

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1. Check out our About Honey Bees page.
2. Beekeeping: an Illustrated Handbook by Diane Stelley, First Edition, 1983.
3. National Public Radio
4. Varroa destructor
5. 21,000 bees is approximately six lbs of honey bees, or two small starter hives. To start a very small starter hive, one generally starts with one queen and three pounds of bees per hive.
6. The North Carolina Master Beekeeper Program