Pre-order mason bee cocoons now!

Check out our online course and in-hive workshops!

Pre-order mason bee cocoons now!

Check out our online course and in-hive workshops!

Vancouver Island Beekeeping

Home Grown Bee is a local beekeeping company based in the Comox Valley. We offer a wide range of beekeeping supplies, in-hive services, educational workshops and courses for all of your Vancouver Island Beekeeping needs. We also carry by-products of the hive such as, local honey & beeswax. Our Merville shop is a welcoming hub for beekeepers and honey enthusiasts alike.

We're your one-stop honeybee shop!

Purchase any one of our 'Beekeeping Kits' and receive 10% off our 'Beekeeping 101' online course for the month of January!

Purchase any one of our 'Beekeeping Kits' and receive 10% off our 'Beekeeping 101' online course for the month of January!

Full Beekeeping Kit (3 boxes, tools & protective gear)

Full Beekeeping Kit (3 boxes, tools & protective gear)
from $514.95
from $514.95
Sold Out
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Starter Kit (2 boxes & tools)

Starter Kit (2 boxes & tools)
from $305.95
from $305.95
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Quick Kit (Assembled Box & Frames)

Quick Kit (Assembled Box & Frames)
from $99.95
from $99.95
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$139.95
$139.95
Sold Out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Beekeeping 101- a completely online, self paced, beekeeping course! Our beekeeping 101 course is available now. What will you learn in Beekeeping 101? This course is designed to provide practical information for the learning beekeeper! This course will breakdown who’s in the hive, their primary roles and behaviours, essential hive... Read More

Check out our holiday gift ideas!

Choose between our hand poured beeswax candles, local honey and educational reads:

Beeswax

Beeswax & Beeswax Candles

Local Honey

Honey

The beekeepers handbook, Vancouver Island Beekeeping

Books

Meet the Beekeeper

I'm Rachel Halliwell, founder of Home Grown Bee. My journey with bees began at Simon Fraser University’s Pollination Ecology Lab, where I worked with honeybee colonies and local pollinators. Later, I gained hands-on experience managing a large apiary and queen rearing operation, which fuelled my passion for hive management. After a few years, I split my time between working in an apiary and teaching hobbyists, discovering the value of urban beekeeping and hands-on education. In 2021, I launched Home Grown Bee, and by May 2022, we opened our Vancouver Island Beekeeping storefront—a hub for beekeepers and honey lovers to find supplies, enjoy local honey, and chat bees!

Comox Valley, Vancouver Island B.C.
Comox Valley Beekeeper, Rachel Halliwell of Home Grown Bee.

Beekeeping Resources

The Waggle Dance

The Waggle Dance

Honeybees need to communicate for a number of reasons- one in particular is to indicate where the best resource patch (nectar, pollen, resin) is located and how to get there....
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'Dead Outs'- What to do when your hive doesn't make it through winter.

'Dead Outs'- What to do when your hive doesn't make it through winter.

Despite our best efforts, we may lose our precious colony over the long, cold, wintering months. While losing a colony may not be uncommon, it is always deeply upsetting and... Read More
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The ‘smoker:’ why do we use smoke in a honeybee hive?

The ‘smoker:’ why do we use smoke in a honeybee hive?

You may have seen photos of beekeepers posing near the hive with metal contraptions billowing with smoke. These are our bee smokers, or simply known as a ‘smoker.’             The... Read More
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Visit Us

February Hours:

Tuesday 11-3pm

Thursday 11-3pm

Saturday Closed Feb. 22nd

(we'll be on Salt Spring Island

for Seedy Saturday)

Our Location

6575 Poulton Road, Merville BC
Get directions