HoneyBee Hives owners Scott Richardson and Di McQueen-Richardson nominated
Dream team duo HoneyBeeHives from Coutts Crossing have been named as finalists for the Australian Rural Business Awards. See how they survived fires, floods and a pandemic.
Grafton
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A husband-wife duo in Coutts Crossing have been named finalists in six categories of The Australian Rural Business Awards.
Specialising in all things bees – Scott Richardson and Di McQueen-Richardson, of HoneyBee Hives produce honey, beekeep, supply equipment and teach the craft.
The couple were both in their fifties when they met, just five years ago, and married at their home in the bush in 2020.
“We are both passionate about bees and the environment,” Di said.
Leaning on their combined skill set, the duo developed a unique business within the beekeeping industry.
“There was huge value and potential growth in Scott’s beekeeping business, which focused solely on honey production at the time,” she said.
Di’s extensive background in business management and natural therapies allowed the duo to create the perfect hive together.
But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing and the couple have already endured drought, two catastrophic bushfires, and two unprecedented floods.
“Drought, floods, and bushfires are devastating for primary producers, and unfortunately, a fact of life for those living on the land,” Di said.
She said the future “looked bleak” after the 2019 fires wiped out thousands of acres of bee-foraging land.
“Not knowing if our bees would survive after endless months of smoke – with no natural food sources available – we needed to find another way for our business to survive.”
Rather than giving into mother nature – the inspired pair turned an “abundance of beeswax” into a new opportunity.
“It kept us afloat when the bees couldn’t – and continues to grow today,” she said.
What started out as cost-saving gifts, eventually grew to a vast range of 26 beeswax balms.
The savvy duo also adapted their model to feed the interest in gardening during the pandemic.
“Covid increased our sales of bees as many backyard gardens were created during lockdowns, with people looking at ways to become more self-sufficient and more time for new hobbies,” she said.
Recent months of flooding resulted in another devastating blow, with the loss of half of their hives.
“Through perseverance, and twice-daily feeding, we were able to save the remaining hives, and strengthen them to begin the new breeding season in Spring with gusto,” Di said.
She said their greatest achievement – and challenge– was to survive the “massive” setbacks thrown at them.
Di highlighted the importance of beehives in the ecosystem.
“Each hive contributes to its local environment through pollination of backyard gardens, veggie patches, as well as larger scale crops, resulting in bigger yields and support of the environment,” she said.
The dynamic couple also provide personalised beekeeping training at their apiary, covering basic information and skills needed to get started with bees.
“Participants get hands-on experience and access to Scott’s decades of knowledge. All protective equipment is provided and we limit sessions to a max of two participants”.
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