Beaupre Apiary and Gardens
In Memory of Edward J Williamson March 29,1945-January 29, 2010
loving father and humble beekeeper
At Beaupre Apiary and Gardens, we beleive in community bee stewardship, organic standards, and beautiful gardening. We focuse on organic and biodynamic practices that bring vitality to the honey bee colonies, and the natural landscape. It is our goal to share the knowledge we have of honey bee stewardship and organic gardening with the local community. We believe it is important to mend the disconnect between the food we eat today and where that food comes from. We also feel it is vital to respect the people, animals, and systems that support our well being.
above: Adell Williamson, Ryan Williamson, Kevin O'Connor, Ed Williamson....beekeepers at Beaupre, BrynMawr
Ryan Wlliamson and Kevin O'Connor are licensed beekeepers practicing biodynamic/organic honeybee stewardship. We began working with the bees commercialy, rearing Hawaiian queens in Kona Hawaii. Our work with commercial beekeepers pushed us to find healthier, more constructive ways to approach the problems facing honeybees. We have found that by giving our bees the space to follow their true instincts, vitality can quickly be restored. Our apiary focuses on natural comb building, natural queens, healthy swarm activity,non toxic equipment and organic standards. We have a no kill ethic. this means we strive to protect each and every bee
Our main Apiaries are located in the Philadelphia Area, along the Main Line and its historic countryside
Our Story
Beaupre, was the name of the country estate PRR railroad manager Alexander Cassat built for his son, Robert.
The Beaupre Estate is still nestled on the Main Line, away from every day view in Bryn Mawr. Its said that Cassat helped persuade other railroad "big wigs" and Philadelphia socialites to buy acerage along the railway, now partly the R5, Paoli /Thorndale, the area now known as the Main Line.
As kids growing up in and around Beaupre's grounds, including those of the Roberts Estate and Portledge Manor, we ran through the feilds playing during the long hot summers. Many days were spent by the local ponds, creeks and woodlands, chasing lightning bugs and catching creighfish. As we grew up, we came to see a little of the magic fall away from the area. So, we set out seeking new adventures, to the Big Island of Hawaii. It was here, 6,000 miles away from our home, where we first really met the bees.
We fell in love with the little buzzers, chasing them through the open space, around our home in Naalehu HI. We became those kids again, regaining the old "magic". Our love for the bees grew to a passion, and we began keeping bees and working commercially to gain experience as beekeepers.
After learning all the basics, and building upon our succeses in Hawaii, we returned to the Main Line. Instantly everyone we knew wanted to know about the bees, and how they lived. So, we decided to show them and started our second apiary in Bryn Mawr. Over the past 5 years, we have grown together with the hives and the local community, chasing the magical honey bee right here, in our own backyards.
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