Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Pickens

Hi Sam, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I recall mentioning to my wife (Katie) how I thought it would be cool to work with bees. As a lover of reading, she had bought me a book called, “Beekeeping For Dummies”. Approximately titled just for me. I read the book cover to cover, so by the time I had finished reading the book I had informed my wife that I was to become a beekeeper. Something I truly meant to do. I would continue to research what it took to become a beekeeper, from Google searches to joining our local Beekeepers Association, where I once functioned as Vice President. In the first few years of my beekeeping experience, I would give away the honey we were able to gather from our hives. We wanted others to taste how wonderful the honey was. Soon enough after tasting the honey, people would come back wanting to purchase more honey from us. By our fourth year in beekeeping and having sold bottles of honey to repeat people. I had the idea that just maybe we could make some money by selling honey. I would visit as many local businesses as I could that used honey in their business, no matter the amount or the frequency of use. This drive and ambition led me to one particular local business, Vintage Grounds Coffeehouse & Cafe. I would begin a partnership with this place, delivering bottles of honey to the business for just over two and a half years. Honey I collected from our hives. That relationship actually flourished to the point that Katie and I now own that same Coffeehouse. We purchased Vintage Grounds Coffeehouse & Cafe September 6, 2024. It was our love for the bees and wanting to provide local raw honey for our community that established ourselves as local business owners.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Hive management and colony health is the biggest struggle. I wish that I could say that beekeeping is as easy as placing a wooden box of bees out in an area, then being able to collect honey at the end of the honey flow season. However, learning how to care for bees and what to look for in having healthy hives, is a process in and of itself. Honey bees are threatened by neonicotinoids and other pest. Pests like hive beetles and the varroa mite destructor, threaten the health of the hive. Management and regular checks of hives are essential to the survival of keeping honey bees. Gaining knowledge and experience of what things threaten the livelihood of honey bees help along the way.

We’ve been impressed with Buzzy Bees Honey , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Buzzy Bees Honey is Southeast Wisconsin’s premier source for local, homegrown raw and unprocessed pure honey. Buzzy Bees Honey is dedicated to providing the best honey and honey products in the state. We offer a variety of pure honey products from the breakfast table to skin care. All of our honey is Wisconsin Certified Honey. What does that mean? Our honey has been tested for its authenticity and ensures that our honey has no added sugars. It is raw Wisconsin honey.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

Customer service along with quality products is vital to our success. As a small family business, we value lasting relationships.

Pricing:

• $10 per pound of honey. Bulk rates are available
• Visit our website for more information on other products at www..buybuzzys.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.buybuzzys.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buzzybeeshoney/profilecard/?igsh=bHB2OTYwemlmbzVn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buzzyshoney?mibextid=LQQJ4d