About Us
Honeybee Bliss Apiary is a family-owned apiary nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, founded by Randy and Pamela Knowles. For more than twenty years, we’ve organically cared for honeybee colonies in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, one of the most biologically diverse temperate rainforest ecosystems on Earth, where ancient hardwood forests, native wildflowers, and mountain weather create exceptional forage for honeybees and extraordinary honey for those who appreciate it.
We are more than beekeepers. We are Honey Sommeliers, trained by the Italian National Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey, giving us a rare understanding of honey’s flavor, aroma, quality, and botanical origins. As both beekeepers and Honey Sommeliers, we experience honey from hive to table, bringing a unique perspective to everything we create.
But before any of that, we simply fell in love with the bees.
A Journey of Healing
Our journey began in 2006 after Pam survived a near-fatal accident that left her living with chronic pain and searching for a renewed sense of purpose. Drawn to a quieter life closer to nature, we turned to honeybees—and that decision changed the course of our lives.
What began as a path toward healing became a lifelong passion for honeybees, sustainable beekeeping, and the remarkable gifts of the hive.
The more time we spent with the bees, the more we realized that beekeeping isn’t really about honey.
For us, beekeeping is about caring for honeybees. The honey is simply the beautiful result of doing that well.
Opening a healthy hive is unlike anything else. The hum of tens of thousands of bees. The ancient and calming fragrance of beeswax, propolis, nectar, pollen, and honey. The calm focus the work requires. Beekeeping demands patience, precision, humility, and presence—and offers, in return, a profound connection to the natural world.
A Commitment to Excellence
Our dedication led us to advanced training in apiary management, queen biology, and queen rearing through The Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences.
In 2021, we became Honey Sommeliers through the Italian National Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey, joining an international community dedicated to understanding honey’s remarkable diversity of flavors, aromas, textures, and floral origins.
Our sommelier training reinforced something we had observed for years in our apiaries: honey tells the story of a place.
Just as wine reflects the vineyard, honey reflects the flowers, climate, elevation, soil, and season from which it comes. No two harvests are ever exactly alike. Every jar captures a moment in time—a bloom, a landscape, and the work of thousands of honeybees.
Our Beekeeping Philosophy
Our organically managed apiaries sit at an altitude of approximately 2,400 feet in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, where diverse nectar sources shape every harvest.
We work in rhythm with the bees, sustainably harvesting only fully capped honey and never taking more than a colony can spare.
We measure success by the health of our colonies, not the number of pounds harvested.
Each frame is extracted with care, strained only to remove wax, and bottled by hand. We never heat, filter, or blend our honey. What arrives in each jar is exactly as the bees made it—raw, unfiltered, and rich with the flavor of the season.
A thriving colony may contain more than 50,000 honeybees working together in remarkable harmony. Every jar of honey represents millions of flower visits and countless hours of effort by the bees, transforming nectar into one of nature’s most extraordinary foods.
Our commitment to healthy colonies extends beyond honey production. We selectively breed and raise queens, incorporating Italian, Carniolan and Buckfast genetics known for their gentle temperament, productivity, and adaptability to changing mountain conditions.
Innovation Through Flavor
As Honey Sommeliers, we have always believed honey deserves a place beyond the tea cup.
When we began creating creamed and infused honeys, our goal was simple: give people more reasons to enjoy honey and discover new ways to use it.
Many customers who tell us they “don’t like honey” become devoted fans after tasting our creamed honey varieties.
Long before fruit-infused honey became common, we began blending organic fruits, herbs, spices, and botanicals directly into our raw honey. We were among the first producers we know of to do so. Our goal was never to mask the flavor of honey, but to enhance it—creating pairings that highlight the unique character of each harvest while introducing people to the incredible diversity honey can offer.
Today, our small-batch creations have become customer favorites and have inspired similar products throughout the marketplace, yet our philosophy remains unchanged: Start with exceptional honey, pair it with carefully selected organic ingredients to create flavors that enhance the honey’s natural character while letting it remain the star of the jar.
Beyond Honey
Our fascination with the hive extends far beyond honey production.
In 2013, we studied traditional French soapmaking and essential oil extraction at the Fragonard Parfum Factory in Èze, France, followed by advanced training in ancient copper alembic distillation and botanical extraction techniques in Tunisia.
In 2019, we became Master Herbalists through a Cornell University-affiliated program and continued studying sustainable agriculture, artisan production methods, and traditional beekeeping practices throughout Europe.
These experiences deepened our appreciation for one of the hive’s most remarkable gifts: propolis. Today, that knowledge helps guide the development of our propolis products and other hive-based creations.
Education & Community
Education is at the heart of Honeybee Bliss.
Every year, we provide more than 100 hours of honeybee education through school programs, observation hive demonstrations, community events, mentorship, public speaking engagements, and immersive apiary tours.
We believe education is one of the most powerful tools for pollinator conservation. The more people understand honeybees, the more they value the natural world and the vital role pollinators play in our food system.
Giving back matters just as much.
We proudly support local shelters and food banks, sponsor the Hendersonville Farmers Market, contribute to programs that strengthen local agriculture, and advocate for pollinator education throughout our region.
Honeybees connect forests, farms, gardens, and communities—and we believe caring for them helps strengthen them all.
Experience the Hive
Today, Honeybee Bliss offers sustainably harvested wildflower and sourwood honey, small-batch creamed and infused honeys, propolis products, handcrafted beeswax goods, queen bees, educational programs, and immersive beekeeping experiences.
Our signature Beehive Experience has been recommended by BBC Travel as a memorable Western North Carolina travel experience.
Guests suit up alongside a professional beekeeper, open active hives, handle frames of bees, search for the queen, and experience firsthand the sights, sounds, aromas, and wonder of a thriving honeybee colony.
For many visitors, it becomes the highlight of their trip—and a memory they never forget.
Looking Forward
Honeybee Bliss is more than an apiary.
We are beekeepers, Honey Sommeliers, queen breeders, educators, herbalists, and advocates for pollinators and local agriculture. Everything we do is guided by a simple belief:
Care for the bees. Respect the land. Let the honey speak for itself.
We are honored to steward these remarkable creatures and grateful for the opportunity to share the flavors, traditions, and wonder of the hive with our community and visitors from around the world.
Where to find us
You can find our honey at some of your favorite locations: