BEEKEEPERS
Homers Honeybees
Our Story
My name is Richard Homer, I am a semi-retired 60 year old. I love gardening and being outdoors. Years ago I noticed a huge decline in bees in my garden and fruit trees. I used to be able to listen to a symphony of bees in my large cherry tree in bloom. The number of bees I was seeing was way off of normal.
My interest in the plight of the honey bee was heightened by a few news stories about Colony Collapse Disorder, and the large losses the commercial beekeepers were seeing across the country. I also saw a documentary “The Vanishing of the bees”. I was intrigued and a bit alarmed. Like the canary in the coal mine to warn the miners of bad air or harmful chemicals. I saw the bee as the Canary in my Garden. I started to look into possibly having bees in my yard (.25-acre lot in suburbia).
I was a little naive about how a hive would impact my personal yard with pets and grandchildren visiting and of course how my neighbors would feel. I had a Nephew in Law that had gotten bees the year before and also lived in a suburban setting. He invited me over to see his hive and experience a hive of bees for the first time. I was hooked! What fascinating creatures the humble honey bees are. The more I learned and experienced the more intrigued and fascinated I became. I got my first hive and was so enamored by these industrious hard working insects. They grew from one box until they filled 4 boxes with bees. With 22 frames of honey, I was able to harvest 5 gallons of honey my first fall and leave that much in the hive for the winter. The next spring I expanded to 4 hives and then 15 the next year, then 50. I now have over 700 hives that I manage adding more every year. My goal was to bring bees back to the city. So all my hives were hosted by families all over the city. It has become a passion of mine to care for my bees and love telling others about these amazing creatures. I teach classes now and help others learn how to successfully keep bees and provide a resource to get fair priced equipment and bees each year. I hope you enjoy your journey of discovery as much as I have.
Hackenberg Apiaries
David Hackenberg began keeping bees as an FFA project in 1962 at Mifflinburg Area High School. By the time he graduated high school he had already started his own business maintaining several hundred hives. Over time he had built his business to include 3000 bee colonies but in 2006 lost 80% of the hives due to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). He and his son David R. ran Hackenberg Apiaries with 1500-2,000 active bee colonies depending on the time of year and effects of pesticides.
After serving as the president of the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association, the American Beekeeping Federation and as a member of the National Honey Board, Dave presently holds the position of co-chairman of the Honey Bee Health Advisory Board. David R. as well has served on several boards for ABF.
Davey & Beth Hackenberg now own and operate Hackenberg Apiaries along with their four children and employees. Hackenbergs is a third generation Apiary.
Hackenberg Apiaries is involved in the areas of pollination, custom beeswax rendering and sales, honey production and sales, custom bottling, natural bee products, and education in the beekeeping industry. David R’s life work contributes to the overall pollination and honey production of seven states: California (almonds), Florida (oranges), Georgia (spring build up), Pennsylvania (apples, cherries, summer vegetables, pumpkins and honey production). Maine (blueberries), New York (honey production) & South Carolina (spring build up).