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ABOUT

ABOUT

Nectar Sweet Apiaries is located in Howell, Michigan. We work with both seasoned and hobbyist beekeepers throughout the state, providing high quality bee packages and queens. We provide a wide variety of honey and honeycomb products. We also offer full pollination services for your farm or orchard. 

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Shawn Shubel is the veteran beekeeper here. In 2018 he celebrated fifty years of beekeeping. His fascination with bees began at a young age, when his neighbor invited him to help tend the bees. Since then, Shawn has gained knowledge and experience which allowed him to become a professional beekeeper and bring Nectar Sweet Apiaries to life. 

2023 BEE DELIVERY

2024 BEE DELIVERY

PLEASE CALL (517) 548-5176 TO PLACE YOUR ORDER!

We offer 2 lb. packages, 3 lb. packages, and a limited number of additional queens. Quantity discounts available to organizations.

Bees are fully insured throughout the transport process to ensure a live delivery.


PRICES
2 lb. package -$135
3 lb. package - $145
Individual queens - $38


DELIVERY DATE

April 3, 2024

 

To guarantee delivery, please send payment in full at least one month prior to your delivery date. Checks can be made out to

Nectar Sweet Apiaries and sent to Shawn Shubel at 345 Chilson Road, Howell, Michigan 48843

If payment is not received on time, your order is subject to cancellation. Thank you for your cooperation.

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CLASSES

CLASSES

Package Introduction Class - TBD
*** $20 WITH PACKAGE PURCHASE ***



 

So you've purchased your equipment, gear, and finally your bees! Now what? This class covers the basics of getting your bees installed and settled into their new homes. Give us a call to secure your spot. Space is limited!

Please bring a veil, gloves, something to take notes with, any questions you have, and an open mind!

*By signing up for one of our classes,  you assume all risk and responsibility for your own safety. Dates and times are subject to change.*

Did you know

DID YOU KNOW?

BEE FACTS

  • The scientific name for the honeybee is Apis Mellifera

  • Bees are vital pollinators

  • Our bees help pollinate many crops including apples, raspberries, blueberries, plums, pumpkins and more

  • An estimated 75% of flowering plants depend on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

  • There are five products produced by a hive: honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis and royal jelly

  • There are three types of bees in a hive: the queen, workers and drones

  • Bees go through four life stages: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult

  • Bees have five eyes

  • Bees have two stomachs- one is used to store what they have eaten and the other is used to store nectar to bring back to the hive

  • A strong active beehive usually has between 50,000 and 60,000 bees in the summer months

  • Bees communicate using scent pheromones and by doing a dance that tells the other bees where to find food - this is often called the "waggle dance"

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THE QUEEN BEE

  • There is only one queen bee in each hive

  • A healthy queen can live between three and five years

  • The queen is the only bee that lays eggs (normally)

  • She will lay around 1,500 eggs per day - there are many factors that influence this number including temperature, season, population and available food stores

  • Worker bees feed the queen a substance called royal jelly

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WORKER BEES

  • Worker bees are always female

  • They live, on average, about six weeks

  • They have stingers

  • If a worker bee uses her stinger, she will die

  • Worker bees do all the work around the hive including cleaning, guarding, taking care of the queen, taking care of brood, storing pollen, nectar and honey, building honeycomb, and more

  • Workers gather nectar and pollen

  • They collect and carry pollen on their back legs to bring back to the hive

  • A worker bee will visit between 50 and 100 flowers in a collection trip

  • Pollen is used to feed baby bees

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DRONE BEES

  • Drones are always male

  • Drones do not have a stinger

  • They are slightly larger than worker bees

  • They have rounder, fuller abdomens and have very large eyes in comparison to a worker

  • A drone's primary job is to mate with the queen

  • Drones die after mating with the queen

  • In the winter, the worker bees push the drones out of the hive - they are not as important as the workers and therefore the colony does not want to waste their honey stores on them

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HONEY

  • A single bee produces about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime

  • Bees produce honey by adding enzymes evaporating the water from nectar collected from flowers. They do this by flapping their wings, which has a drying "fan" effect

  • The flavor of honey is entirely dependent on which flowers the bees visited to create it

  • If properly stored, honey will never spoil

  • When honey crystallizes, it can be restored to a liquid by gently heating it

  • Honey has been found to have immense health benefits, including having antibacterial properties

  • Honey should not be given to infants because their bodies are not capable of processing potential bacteria that is naturally present in honey- this can lead to infant botulism

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THE BEES ARE DYING-HOW CAN I HELP?

  • Do not use pesticides/insecticides in your garden or around your home; if it will kill an ant it will kill a bee. This also applies to spraying for mosquitos

  • Do not use weed killers that contain glysophate or similar chemicals - you can make your own weed killer by simply mixing 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of regular table salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish washing liquid

  • Ensure that the flowers and plants you purchase from big-box stores have not been treated with neonicotonoids- some stores will label, some do not. Neonicotonoids have been identified as harmful to bees and have been banned throughout Europe

  • Plant flowers that the bees like: aster, lemon balm, sage, lavender, verbena, zinnias, milkweed, etc. 

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Queen bee

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Worker bee

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Drone bee

GALLERY

GALLERY

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