Our Story
Langford Apiary is Our Backyard Apiary. We sell Nucs and Honey.
Promoting Local Beekeeping
By purchasing your honey and bees from Langford Apiary, you not only support a local small business – you also support the local environmental health of your community! Bees Pollinate our food. I will also share some of my tips to help you grow your own beekeeping skills.
My Story
Hi there, I’m Kirk. I’m an engineer by trade, but my family will tell you I’m also a serial hobbyist. My beekeeping actually started with apple trees; I figured that having honeybees would improve pollination and maybe could even get some honey. The bees helped pollinate the trees and this improved the apple crop. Although we had more apples, the backyard wildlife (squirrels) ate all my apples. Everyone loves honey! (Most everyone). I love woodworking and hives are made of wood. What a match.
As I started to meet other beekeepers, they all warned me about the problem’s beekeepers have and how expensive beekeeping is. Being an Engineer, I was ready for the challenge. Solving problems. I turned to YouTube. Everything is on YouTube. That was a problem. Everything is on YouTube. Now I had to sort good and bad information. Many of the beekeepers are in the south. I am in the North. Does any of this apply? These beekeepers all have nicknames. Fat Bee Man, Barnyard Bees, Dirt Rooster,…. (thanks for your help!). I finally found some bee keepers in northern climates. JC Bees, Vino farms, Canadian Beekeeper, U of Guelph, B&K Bees (thank!). I got my information. Let’s do this.
In 2018 I bought my first hive. I was either very lucky or I learned something. My bees were doing well while more experience beekeeper were losing their hives. Idea: I could sell beekeepers my extra bees.
I split my first hive part way through the 2018 season. Overwintered, these two hives successfully. By the second year, my two hives became fifteen. Sold some bees and honey with a little effort. My wife seemed slightly happy I found a hobby that paid for itself (not really). She is concerned about the number of Bees. She teases me (I think), “easily solved with Raid”.
2020 was a tough year in many ways. We had a drought in this area and the bees were looking for food everywhere. I mean everywhere. My wife did not like them in her hair while sitting on the deck. At least she doesn’t scream anymore. Even with COVID and drought, I was able to sell more nucs and extract 200 lbs of honey. Going into the winter with twelve hives
Here I am a small business owner of a backyard bee apiary.
There’s more to come from Langford Apiary. I hope to help other beekeepers – both struggling and those looking to get started – grow their apiary. If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch!
I am not an expert. I will share what works for me.
Your success promotes my success. Good Luck and let the force bee with you. Thanks to my beekeeper customers. It’s been a pleasure supplying bees and supplies.
Thanks to my honey customers. I hope you enjoy the honey as much I enjoy getting to know you. Seeing repeat customes speaks volumes.
Kirk Hlavaty Owner of Langford Apiary
Follow us on facebook: LangfordApiaryLLC
and
YouTube @GoodEnoughBackyardBeekeeping
Honey Harvest
2020 193 lbs
2021 154 lbs
2022 424 lbs
2023 300 lbs
2024 457 lbs