Every great journey starts with a simple idea. Ours began with pumpkins.
Back in 2017, we made the decision to add two beehives to our property in Teven, New South Wales, to help pollinate our pumpkin patch. A few years earlier, our patch had produced over 2 tonnes of pumpkins, but for the following two seasons our harvest dropped dramatically to just 200–300 kg. It became clear that something important was missing – the bees.
Around the same time, a local beekeeper approached us about placing hives on our nearby sugar cane farm. That sparked our curiosity, and in August 2017 we welcomed our very first two nucleus (nuc) colonies.
It didn't take long before we were completely captivated by these incredible insects. The more we learnt, the more fascinated we became by the vital role honey bees play in our environment and food production.
Soon enough, we harvested our very first honey crop – 27 kilograms. We bottled every jar and placed them in our small roadside stall at the front of our property. To our surprise, every jar sold within just two weeks. That was the moment we realised this was much more than a hobby.
Like many beekeepers, we originally said we'd only ever have two hives.
That quickly changed.
By September 2018 our apiary had grown to 11 hives, and by early 2022 we had built our operation to almost 100 hives. Then nature reminded us how challenging beekeeping can be. The devastating Northern Rivers floods of February 2022 claimed 20 of our full hives, along with their honey supers. It was heartbreaking, but beekeeping teaches resilience, and we immediately began rebuilding.
Around the same time, Australia faced another challenge when Varroa mite was detected for the first time. Protecting healthy bee populations has become more important than ever, and we remain committed to strong biosecurity practices and responsible beekeeping to ensure our colonies continue to thrive.
Today, Two Busy Beez is proud to produce 100% raw Australian honey, harvested from the beautiful Northern Rivers region. Our bees forage across a diverse range of native forests, coastal heathlands and local farmland, producing unique seasonal honeys that reflect the rich floral diversity of our region.
Sustainability Matters
We believe in making the most of everything our bees produce.
After harvesting our honey, the beeswax is carefully collected, melted and filtered several times until it reaches a beautifully pure finish. Rather than letting this valuable natural resource go to waste, we handcraft it into a growing range of beeswax products, including:
- Pure beeswax candles
- Wax melts
- Wood polish
- Leather conditioner
- Surf wax
- Beeswax food wraps
- And many more handcrafted products
Nothing goes to waste, and every product reflects our commitment to sustainability, quality and supporting healthy bee populations.
More Than Just Honey
At Two Busy Beez, we're passionate about educating others about the importance of bees and pollination. Whether we're producing premium raw honey, creating natural beeswax products, providing pollination services, or sharing our love of beekeeping through hive experiences and education, our goal is simple:
To care for our bees, produce exceptional local products, and help others appreciate the incredible work that honey bees do every single day.
From two hives in a pumpkin patch to a thriving family-run beekeeping business, it's been an amazing journey—and we're only just getting started.
