In celebration of Pollinator Week, this video miniseries takes you behind the scenes with local beekeeper Chris Heathcote, owner of Heathcote’s Honey. Our sister company, Ruppert Nurseries, has teamed up with Heathcote’s Honey to host bee hives on the tree farm as part of a mutually beneficial partnership.
In episode one, Chris shares why pollinators are essential to our food supply and native ecosystems, and how we can support them by providing additional food sources to help bee populations thrive.
In episode two, Chris Heathcote walks us through a hive inspection and explains how he monitors hive health. From checking for signs of disease to evaluating brood patterns and food stores, Chris shares the key indicators he looks for to ensure his colonies are thriving. This hands-on look inside the hive highlights the care and attention required to maintain a healthy bee population—an essential part of supporting pollinators and the ecosystems they serve.
In episode three, Chris demonstrates how he harvests honey from his hives. Watch as he carefully removes the honey supers, explains how to check if the frames are ready for extraction, and shares tips on doing it in a way that keeps the bees calm and the hive healthy. This step is a rewarding part of the beekeeping process and a great reminder of the incredible work bees do to produce one of nature’s sweetest gifts.
In episode four, Chris walks us through the honey extraction process. After harvesting the honey supers, it’s time to uncap the frames and spin out the liquid gold. Chris demonstrates how to carefully remove the wax cappings and use a centrifugal extractor to separate the honey, while preserving the comb for reuse. This behind-the-scenes look shows just how much care goes into producing pure, local honey straight from the hive.
In the final episode of our Pollinator Week series, we hear from Sophie Ruppert Felts, CEO of Ruppert Nurseries, about the nursery’s partnership with Heathcote’s Honey. She shares how hosting bee hives on the tree farm and planting dedicated pollinator meadows creates a supportive habitat for local pollinators. This collaboration not only helps strengthen bee populations but also enhances biodiversity and promotes healthier plant growth across the farm, demonstrating the powerful impact of working with nature.