About us

 

Thurston Honey Bee Co. is family owned and operated in The Kawartha Lakes on and around the sixth generation Thurston Family Farm where beekeeper Dan Thurston grew up in Dunsford. We also manage hives in the Guelph area, where we got our very first hive.

Established in 2013, Thurston Honey Bee Co. began as a small summer hobby alongside our school studies. We both moved away from the Kawarthas to attend the University of Guelph in 2010. Thanks to some encouragement from Dan's Mom (also a U of G alum), we both took Guelph's "Intro to Beekeeping" course and loved it! Beyond the classroom, Dan began to get his hands sticky in the hives in the summer of 2011. Growing up with relatives in the beekeeping industry on both sides of his family (one of which, Lorne Thurston, lived just up the road in Dunsford!), Dan had the opportunity to work a summer job at his aunt & uncle's commercial beekeeping operation in Indian River. These family connections, academic introductions, and a summer of practical hands on beekeeping really set us off into the world of bees and gave light to Thurston Honey Bee Co.!

Alongside growing our farm business, Dan worked for seven years at the Ontario Beekeepers Association Tech Transfer Program as well as further teaching for two years at the Niagara College Beekeeping Program. Outside of the classroom and lab, Dan has worked for multiple beekeepers, and also co-managed a larger commercial beekeeping operation. These experiences brought a wealth of knowledge and practice to our operation here at Thurston Honey, as well as countless friendships within the beekeeping community. Long story short, we really love bees and the beekeeping industry!

Partners in life and work, Steph has been beside Dan in one way or another on most of these bee themed escapades, but her primary focus has stayed behind the scenes of Thurston Honey Bee Co.. A complete career shift into bees was not initially in the plan for Steph, she actually used to be a full-time software developer and only a part-time beekeeper! After a car accident and subsequent on-going health issues, she has had to pivot her life to focusing most of her efforts on treatments and rehabilitation. Steph is still very much a part of the Thurston Honey Bee Co. team wherever and whenever she is able, but if you've missed her at markets in the last few years, this is why! She is and always has been a core component of our business. Also, a fun (less fun more intriguing) fact about Steph - a couple of years into us running THBC, she was actually diagnosed with a honeybee allergy, and had to carry an EpiPen in the beeyard! To learn more about this experience see our FAQ page!

 As of 2022, we decided that all part time jobs had to come off the table and Thurston Honey Bee Co. needed our full time focus. This transition has been both exciting and a little terrifying! 

Over the last decade of being in the hives, the bees have really helped us to appreciate and respect the natural world around us and further solidify our love for the outdoors. Thurston Honey Bee Co. prides itself in providing 100% Ontario Honey & Beeswax products to its customers with an emphasis on local production, care, quality.

We're fortunate to have found so many local farmers and landowners whose meadows provide wonderful homes and forage for our bees in our surrounding beeyards in addition to the home farm. Our local honey from the countrysides of Guelph and The Kawarthas is harvested annually as a wildflower medley and not at all processed. This preserves our honey's natural health benefits and also exhibits the subtle flavours of the various flora the bees visit throughout the summer months.

Thank you for supporting our small family farm business and our passion, as well as following along on our journey!

Dan and Steph Thurston