About Us and My Story!

Hello and greetings from Mike's Bees and Honey! I'm Michael, and I've been passionately involved in beekeeping since I was 13. My beekeeping history began when my grandfather managed a large number of bees in NW Ohio and the Irish Hills area of Michigan, sparking my interest at the age of 9. By the time I turned 13, I had successfully managed my first colony, and with my parents' encouragement, I launched my business at that young age. Now, 53 years later, I continue in the beekeeping business, holding degrees in Biology and Professional Photography, with Genetics Research as my specialty. This unique background has significantly validated my research. I have served as a deputy Bee Inspector for the State of Ohio under the mentorship of Gordon Rudloff and Russell Lamp, who were invaluable in diagnosing bee diseases. Currently, I am the Hancock County Bee Inspector under State Apiarist Barbara Bloetscher with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. After overcoming stage 4 NHL Follicular Lymphoma and completing 31 chemotherapy treatments, I am eager to reconnect with my long-time clients and welcome new ones with my range of beekeeping products, including quality queen bees and nucleus colonies. I recently faced the loss of my dear business partner, Donna Girdler, who passed away on 3/24/2023; her cheerful help will be greatly missed. Her brother Mike, too, is now navigating family matters and will be missed as well. As we move forward with COVID-19 finally under control and my cancer now in the past, I am excited to provide the highest quality queen bees, nucs, and other exceptional beekeeping products and services to you all! Sincerely, Michael