Today we’d like to introduce you to Bracken Barker.
Hi Bracken, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Honeybees saved my life.
In 2013, my father and I started beekeeping. We run a 120 acer farm and we decided that we needed some bees. We kept bees for 2-3 years and was lucky enough to get a couple swarms and keep a few during the winters. however we didn’t know what we were doing at all. We lost the bees and decided it was too expensive to continue so we stopped.
In 2021 I quit drinking alcohol (recovering alcoholic sober for 3 years 7 months and 10 days. The same time shortly after i quit drinking i decided to start beekeeping again. this time i wasn’t gonna screw it up and was gonna be good at it. i learned everything i could about bees and continue to learn every single day about honeybees and the wonderful things they do and provide to us. The honeybees saved my life. they kept me distracted from drinking and changed me in a way i cannot explain. Working with honeybees is one of the most therapeutic relaxing and life changing things i have ever done. I owe so much of my sobriety to the bees! And so much to my wonderful family and beautiful wife Laura. She puts up with the smoky smelling clothes, sticky honey, wax messes and all the other stuff that comes with beekeeping.
I am a army vet i served in the army for 6 years. 3 years sober, beekeeper, farmer, father of 5 kids!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No it hasn’t. but it has been worth the trip! I haven’t really had a wicked hard time yet. it has been pretty good as far as the beekeeping business. however the mental struggle of staying sober has been a hard road but also has been worth it!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a beekeeper. that alone sets me apart from others. I work with the bees in the field, i use them to pollinate fruits in orchards. I am a farmer and love agriculture and everyting to do with it. The bees have taught me ways to be a better farmer and a better person in general.
i love to make honey with my bees
i love to make queen bees
i love growing my beekeeping business and operation. i am proud that i have built this business to what it is now for myself and by myself with the support of my family. i have turned a little side hobby into a business that is doing well for itself.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
When i think about risk in beekeeping i think about money and investing it. When were and what to invest my money into to help the business be successful. beekeepers don’t get a weekly or bi weekly check, most get one check a year from pollination services. And then some money here and there from honey and wax etc. So farming in general is a risk. beekeeping is no different. i have to float money on things that i belive are going to help in the long run. i have to risk spending money on medications and feed and supplies for my bees when they could be sprayed or killed in a matter of a days and i could lose them all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://barkersbeesandhoney.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barkers_bees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089296014769
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@barkersbees
