Most of the people I help aren't running an operation. They have a couple of hives in the backyard, they love their bees, and they hit a moment where they're not sure what they're looking at or what to do next. The big beekeeping outfits around here run thousands of hives and don't have time to come look at your two. I do. Hive management is simply me being that experienced set of eyes and hands for your bees, as often or as rarely as you need.
What hive management covers
We tailor it to your hives, but a typical visit includes:
- Full hive inspections, reading the frames for eggs, brood pattern, stores, and space, and telling you plainly what's going on.
- Varroa mite management, mite washes to get a real count and a treatment plan that fits the season and your comfort level.
- Queen checks, confirming you're queenright, spotting a failing or missing queen early, and planning a requeen if you need one.
- Swarm prevention, catching the signs before your bees leave, and managing space and splits so they stay.
- Feeding and stores, knowing when to feed, what to feed, and how to get a colony through a dearth or into winter.
- Seasonal management, the right moves for spring buildup, summer flow, fall prep, and winter, timed to our South Coast conditions.
- Harvest help, when and how to pull honey without setting your colony back.
Common situations I get called for
If any of these sound like you, you're exactly who I built this service for:
- "I think my hive might be queenless and I'm not sure."
- "My mite counts are high and I don't know how to treat."
- "My bees look like they're getting ready to swarm."
- "I'm going out of town and need someone to check on my hives."
- "I lost a colony over winter and want to understand why."
- "I'm in my first year and honestly a little overwhelmed."
- "My hive has gotten hot (defensive) and I don't want to open it alone."
Why work with me
I'm a local beekeeper here in Goleta, training through the UC Davis California Master Beekeeper Program, and I keep and rear my own bees. This isn't a side gig I read about, it's what I do. I care about healthy colonies and honest advice, and I'd always rather teach you something than make you dependent on me.
I also build ColonyTrack, a beekeeping app, so every visit can come with clean records of what we found and what's due next, and you can see your hive's history and timing without keeping it all in your head.
How it works
Reach out and tell me what's going on with your bees. We'll set up a first visit, I'll go through your hives with you, and you'll get a clear picture plus a plan. From there it's up to you, a one-time visit to sort something out, or ongoing management where I keep an eye on your hives through the season. No contracts, no upsell.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer one-time visits or only ongoing management?
Both. Plenty of folks just want a second opinion or help through one tricky moment. Others like knowing their hives get looked at regularly. Whatever fits.
How often should my hive be inspected?
During the active season, every 7 days, religiously. That weekly rhythm is what lets you catch a biological process at its inception, a colony building toward a swarm, a supersedure underway, a hive going honey-bound, and intercept it before it turns into a problem you're only reacting to. Once the season winds down and the colony reaches equilibrium (not enough nectar to keep growing, not enough pollen to support a large population), every 14 days is plenty.
Do you treat for varroa mites?
Yes. We start with an actual mite count, then choose a treatment that fits the season, whether there's honey on, and how you like to manage. No guessing.
I'm a total beginner. Can you still help?
Especially then. Beginners are who I most enjoy working with. We'll go at your pace and you'll come away more confident every visit.
Can you take care of my bees while I'm away?
Yes, and I'll be straight with you: this is one of the things I'd most love to do. While you're away I'll check your hives on the right cadence, handle anything urgent, and send you an update so you can actually relax. It's a natural extension of the hive management I already do.
What areas do you serve?
Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria, Isla Vista, and the surrounding South Coast.