If you’ve ever bitten into one of our sun-ripened blackberries or blueberries and thought, “Wow, that’s sweet,” you can thank the bees. Here at Linam Farm, the buzz you hear around the fields isn’t just background noise—it’s pollination in action, and it’s one of the most important parts of growing healthy fruit.
That’s why we’ve been quietly working behind the scenes to build out our beekeeping program, with five active hives currently on the property and our first real honey harvest expected around July 4th.
But let’s back up a bit, because (as usual) this story didn’t start out perfectly tidy—and we’ve learned a lot along the way.
How It Started: From Curious to Committed Bees
Tiffany and Chris had bees before they had a farm.
“I used to think my friend was crazy for keeping bees,” Tiffany said, laughing. “Now here we are, ordering queens off the internet, suiting up in mesh, and feeding sugar water like it’s a second job.”
Their first few seasons were rocky. Some hives didn’t make it through winter. Others swarmed unexpectedly, meaning the bees just up and left. If you’ve ever kept bees, you know that heartbreak.
But instead of quitting, they started asking for help.
This year, they got some expert advice at the Arkansas Grown Conference and adjusted their beekeeping approach:
- Feed sugar water early and often
- Don’t over-inspect the hives
- Treat for mites in the fall
- Let the bees do what bees do best
And guess what? It’s working.
Five Hives and Counting
As of this spring, Linam Farm has five active hives, and all five are thriving. Tiffany and Chris check the sugar water regularly, monitor space inside the boxes, and add “supers” (extra honey boxes) as the bees fill them.
When they lifted the lids a few weeks ago, every hive was humming with activity—and almost all of them needed another box. That’s a sign of a strong, healthy colony… and plenty of honey on the way.
Chris estimates they’ll be able to harvest enough honey this summer to both leave plenty for the bees to survive winter and bottle up some for sale. That’s a sweet win.
Why Bees Matter to the Farm
It’s not just about the honey (though, let’s be real, that’s a major perk). Bees are vital to pollinating the blackberries and blueberries on the farm. Without them, we wouldn’t have nearly the fruit production we do today.
And while some farms rent bees during pollination season, Linam Farm keeps their own hives on-site year-round. It’s part of their commitment to sustainability and ecosystem health.
Chris even planted a wildflower patch in one of the unused corners of the farm, specifically for pollinator support. Zinnias, sunflowers, and native blooms give the bees something to forage on even when the berry blossoms are gone.
The Beekeeper Reality Check
Beekeeping might sound idyllic, but Chris would be the first to tell you—it’s not for the faint of heart.
“You’re out there in a full bee suit, sweating buckets, with 10,000 bees buzzing around your ears. And they don’t always love it when you’re messing with their house,” he laughed.
He’s not exaggerating. Their first real photo shoot with the hives ended in sweaty suits and nervous giggles. But they got the footage. Because, here at Linam Farm, the bees are just as much a part of the story as the berries.
Looking Ahead: Honey for Sale This Summer
If everything keeps going as planned, Linam Farm will have its first honey jars available around the 4th of July—just in time for summer grilling, backyard biscuits, and sweet tea with a little extra local flavor.
The honey will be raw and minimally filtered, straight from the hives to your hands. You’ll be able to pick up a jar when you come out for berries—or keep an eye on the Farm socials for preorder info once harvest time gets closer.
Final Thoughts: Bees Belong Here
The truth is, farming isn’t just about planting something and watching it grow. It’s about building a full ecosystem—one that works together season after season.
The bees at Linam Farm don’t just make honey. They make berries sweeter, plants stronger, and the farm more resilient. And every time you support a farm like ours, you’re also supporting the tiny workers who help make it all possible.
So the next time you take a bite of a Linam Farm blackberry, remember—it’s a little bit of sunshine, a little bit of dirt, and a whole lot of buzzing behind the scenes.
