By Shelby Carroll
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

Rowan County is home to many beekeepers who produce delicious, raw local honey. You can often find local honey at:

• Farmers’ markets: Salisbury Farmers Market and others
• Local farms and roadside stands: Many small farms sell honey directly.
• Specialty stores: Health food stores and local craft fairs often carry local honey.

Benefits of local honey:

• Allergy relief: Consuming local honey may help with seasonal allergies as it contains trace amounts of local pollen.
• Better taste: Local honey is often richer and more flavorful than mass-produced alternatives.
• Supports local beekeepers: Buying local honey helps sustain the beekeeping community and promote pollinator health.

Becoming a beekeeper allows you to harvest your own natural honey while helping the environment. Here’s how you can get started:

• Learn the basics:
  • Understand bee biology, hive structure and seasonal care.
  • Take a class like the Rowan County Beekeeping School for hands-on training.
• Get the right equipment:
  • Hive boxes, frames, protective gear and tools.
  • Bees 
• Set up your hive:
  • Place your hive in a sunny, dry location with access to water and flowers nearby.
• Care for your bees:
  • Perform regular hive inspections to ensure the colony is healthy.
  • Provide food when natural nectar sources are scarce.
• Harvesting honey:
  • Typically, honey is harvested in late spring or summer after the bees have stored enough for themselves.
• Join a local beekeeping community:
  • The Rowan County Beekeepers Association is a great resource for mentorship and support.

Ready to start?
Register for the Rowan County Beekeeping School to learn everything you need to know. Contact Shelby Carroll at shelby_carroll@ncsu.edu for details.

Shelby Carroll is agriculture and natural resources agent with the Rowan County Cooperative Extension.