Our bee yard

My name is Laura Miller and I am a hobby beekeeper. My adventure began in 2010 and it didn’t take long to get hooked on these fascinating insects.

Bee Colony Collapse sparked my initial interest in beekeeping. I learned quickly that bees and other pollinators face many other dangers and they are critical cogs in the wider ecosystem. I am retired from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University that is named for well-known Iowa-born conservationist Aldo Leopold. He knew the importance of keeping all parts of an ecosystem healthy, even if you do not fully understand the role they have in that larger community.

Currently, my husband and I care for five hives in Story County, Iowa. We live in a rural residential subdivision that’s bordered on one side by a wooded area and creek; otherwise we are surrounded by corn and soybean fields.

We enjoy the honey our bees produce, but more importantly, we feel like we’re helping to maintain the health of some of the tiniest creatures that perform mountains of work for all the rest of us.

Depending on the time of year, I may have honey for sale. Most of our honey has been used for gifts and cooking, but I have been able to offer jars of honey at a reasonable price. Please contact me if you are interested.

Honey

Depending on the time of year, I may have honey for sale. Most of our honey has been used for gifts and cooking, but I have been able to offer jars of honey at a reasonable price. Please contact me if you are interested.