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.