We've been loving the activity in our Facebook Group (have you joined yet?) but we also keep noticing: incredibly knowledgeable beekeepers who undervalue their expertise.

You'll meet someone at a conference who casually mentions solving a complex swarming problem, developing an innovative management technique, or successfully overwintering colonies in challenging conditions. When you suggest they could consult or teach others, they brush it off. "I'm just a hobbyist."

Dr. Jason Graham's story resonates because he faced the same question many of you have heard: "What are you going to do with bees?" His answer reveals something we see in our community daily—bee knowledge has real monetary value when positioned correctly.

This isn't about turning every hobbyist into a business owner, but we want to recognize and validate that the problem-solving skills, seasonal observations, and management techniques you've developed over years of beekeeping represent valuable expertise others desperately need.

We designed Primal Bee hives partly because we understand that efficient operations create freedom. When your colonies require less intervention, you have bandwidth for higher-value activities. Whether that's consulting, education, or simply enjoying your bees without constant management stress.

The five-stage progression Jason's story illustrates is permission to value what you already know and consider how that knowledge might serve others while generating income.

Your expertise matters more than you think.

— Tomer, Yotam, Alex, Gianmario & the Primal Bee Team

"My parents love that I found something that I love to do, but they're nervous. What are you going to do and make a career out of this?"

Dr. Jason Graham faced this question after completing his PhD in entomology at the University of Florida. Most beekeepers recognize that moment when equipment costs, hive losses, and time investment make "free honey" feel expensive.

Graham discovered that people value bee expertise and experiences more than bee products. Working with Planet Bee Foundation, he learned that Google pays premium rates for authentic bee experiences where team members "have a blue team, a red team, a yellow team and a green team managing hives and competing to see who can get the strongest hive."

Your growing bee knowledge has monetary value. Every problem you solve, seasonal challenge you navigate, and technique you master becomes potential income.

The progression starts with documentation during your first years as a beekeeping "grad student." Those seasonal observations and problem-solving notes become credibility assets. By year 2-3, farmers market testing reveals hobbyist beekeepers earning $160-900 per market day. Year 3-4 brings value-added products with beeswax lip balm costing $0.25 to produce while retailing for $2.50.

Years 4-5 transform accumulated experience into consulting income. One consulting day (8 hours at $75/hour = $600) equals revenue from 40-75 pounds of retail honey.

Graham's observation reveals the accelerator: "When I go outside to check my hives in the morning, my Primal Bees are out and about, flying around the hive—the others are still cooped up, trying to maintain warmth." Efficient operations free time for revenue-generating activities.

[Read the complete 5-stage guide to beekeeping revenue →]

We're looking for an experienced beekeeper to join our team as a Community Support Manager. This hourly position involves managing our Facebook community, answering member questions, and helping fellow beekeepers succeed with their operations.

What we're looking for:

What you'll do:

This remote position offers flexible hours and competitive hourly pay. Perfect for someone who enjoys the teaching and mentoring aspects of beekeeping and wants to turn that passion into part-time income.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with your beekeeping background and why you'd be great at helping our community thrive.

Reply with your answer—we'll share the most common responses in our next issue and address them with practical solutions.

We hope this issue gave you some fresh perspective on turning your beekeeping knowledge into something more—whether that's a few extra dollars, a way to help other beekeepers, or simply recognizing the value of what you already know.

The stories we shared aren't about requiring everyone to become a business owner. They're about seeing the expertise you've quietly built over seasons of problem-solving, late-night research, and hands-on learning. That knowledge matters to someone who's just starting their beekeeping journey.

Keep documenting those seasonal observations. Keep helping nervous beginners. Keep building the kind of beekeeping community that lifts everyone up.

And remember—whether you're managing two hives or seventy, your experience has value worth sharing.

See you in the next hive check,

The Primal Bee Team

P.S. - Still thinking about that community management position? We'd love to hear from beekeepers who want to help others succeed. Drop us a line at [email protected].