Steve Wahl is quick to point out that he is not a “honey crusader”; he says that he just happens to like honey in his coffee. And now that his beekeeping operation yields close to 75 pounds of the sweet stuff a year, it’s a safe bet that his morning brew has plenty of flavor.
The retired CFO-turned-beekeeper/honey producer lives in San Anselmo, and at the suggestion of a neighbor started keeping bees around 12 years ago. What began as one hive has expanded (or exploded, in his words) into 24 to 30, that he keeps at locations in Woodacre, Ignacio, San Rafael and San Anselmo.
Once Wahl had committed to one hive, he wanted to learn more. He enrolled in beekeeping classes offered by Doug Vincent, the founder of Beekind in Sebastopol. Even Wahl’s family members took an interest, and soon, one of his granddaughters could distinguish between the drones, worker bees and queens. Along with the obvious benefits of receiving honey produced close to home, the entire beekeeping process is nothing short of fascinating. Bees can live just about anywhere, but by keeping them in boxes, feeding them and learning their daily practices, keepers are rewarded with thick, syrupy golden nectar infused with flavors from nearby plants and flowers.
“Finding locations with large open spaces that are far from commercial agriculture [where pesticides are likely] is optimal,” explains Wahl, who says that the bees will fly within a two-mile radius to collect nectar and pollen.
Along with Kimo Bees Wild Flower Honey, Whal offers products like tea candles made from beeswax and named after his granddaughters. Whether you’re hoping to change up your morning cup of coffee, or just want to support a local beekeeper, look for the 9-ounce jars at Good Earth, United Markets, Scotty’s Market and the Marin Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo.
