About Us

The Saving the Honeybees initiative was founded in central Maine with a clear mission: to help increase pollinator populations in our region and promote the health of honeybees and other essential pollinators.

Our organization is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for people to learn about beekeeping and understand the vital role that pollinators play in our environment and food systems.

Our Story

With a lifelong love for bees, I finally began beekeeping as a hobby. Like many, I started naïvely, thinking, "How hard can it be?" My first year, I had two hives, but I got no honey—which isn't unusual for beginners. The following year, I harvested a little honey but lost both hives over winter. I replaced them with two packages of bees, and although they did well that summer, I lost both again the next winter. I quickly realized "easy" isn't the word for this! It was time to join a local club and attend "Bee School."

Living in Massachusetts at the time, I joined the Essex County Beekeepers Association and learned a lot. I also discovered that the beekeeping scene had changed dramatically since the 70s when I first became interested. New pests and diseases—Varroa mites, Tracheal mites, Foul Brood, Hive Beetles, and Wax Moths—had taken a toll, and Colony Collapse Disorder ramped up losses from 10-15% to as high as 62%. Beekeeping had shifted from a simple hobby to a serious job of saving bees.

I took time off to research and better prepare. When I returned to beekeeping in Southern New Hampshire, I started with two hives, which survived the first winter and produced about 45 pounds of honey. I kept at it, even losing two hives to bears at a different location, despite installing electric fences. After relocating to Maine, I averaged about one hive loss per year over the next three years.

When my mother fell ill in northern Boston, I took a five-year break to care for her, during which I kept three hives. I shared honey with neighbors, who reported their gardens and fruit trees thrived thanks to my bees. After she passed in 2020, I purchased 29 acres in Maine—near water, hay fields, and a small orchard—aiming to expand from hobby to sideline. I started Hood Brook Apiary with ten hives in spring 2021, and everything was going well—until winter hit hard.

That first winter, I lost all but two hives after extreme cold and unexpected temperature swings. Many bees perished because they couldn't maintain the necessary warmth. Despite trying everything, nature proved brutal. In 2023, I lost one hive but managed to recover with help from friends—getting two packages of bees, which helped me rebuild to four hives. By 2024, I harvested a record 80+ pounds of honey. But then, winter struck again, taking most of my hives.

In 2025, I experimented with new methods like single brood management, knowing I might lose more hives. Drought and robbing caused complete losses. As of early 2026, all three of my hives are dead, victims of nature's unpredictable challenges beyond my control. Despite the setbacks, I plan to start anew, hoping to bounce back with new nucs and a fresh start.

This journey has truly shown me how fragile honeybee populations are and how much they need our help. Honeybees are essential for pollinating the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we rely on every day. Their decline threatens the balance of our ecosystems and our food supply. That's why I started the "Saving the Honeybees" initiative—aimed at raising awareness and supporting local bees through education, community action, and sponsorship programs.

Through this effort, I want people to understand how they can help, whether by planting bee-friendly flowers, supporting local beekeepers, or sponsoring hives to rebuild our declining populations. Every little bit helps in the fight to save these vital pollinators. Together, we can work toward a healthier, sustainable future for honeybees in Maine and beyond.