Beekeeping with Soul: Shannon & Jeremiah’s Mission

We probably don’t need to be reminded how essential bees are to life on Earth. Their role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting our food systems has been well-documented, from scientific studies to numerous documentaries and articles.

And yet, the more we know, the more we forget to notice them honestly.

Bees are delicate beings, yet their devotion to work is astonishing. With quiet precision, they travel miles to gather nectar, navigate using the sun, and communicate through a mysterious, coded dance. They do all this not for themselves, but for the hive, for something greater.

The honey we taste results from thousands of tiny flights, countless decisions, and a silent orchestration of purpose. Every spoonful carries the memory of a field in bloom. More info here.

But what if the bees vanish? Great article on the essential role of pollinators.

It’s a question that lingers more urgently with each passing year.

Recently, I had the rare opportunity to learn more about the world of bees. On a peaceful farm outside Sarasota, I met with local beekeepers Jeremiah and Shannon Yoder from Bearded Man Bee Co. They are a passionate couple dedicated to beekeeping, education, and saving hives from harm. What started as a personal healing journey evolved into a mission with deep ecological and human significance.

"When we moved into our Bradenton property, the land was eerily quiet—no insects, no birds, bugs, nothing," Shannon told me. The property's history was wrought with heavy pesticide use. So we shifted farming practices to a more organic solution. We introduced the Monarch butterfly and the plants that support it. Soon, we had all sorts of Florida native species, and everything started returning–Birds of prey, beetles, and moths. It was like the land was breathing again."

Then, in 2019, Jeremiah suffered a severe fall and broke his leg. During his recovery, he immersed himself in beekeeping, learning from some of the field's top experts. “Jeremiah had always wanted to learn beekeeping, and I love insects, so we bought two hives. Just two. And that was the beginning,” Shannon smiled. “The next thing we knew, we were rescuing hives from trees, concrete block walls… I was so proud to see him do it successfully.”

Today, their project—Bearded Man Bee Co.—maintains nearly 50 hives, with over 90% rescued from places where they’d otherwise be exterminated. “Most people don’t even know they can call someone to relocate bees. They spray them. And that breaks my heart.”

One of the most impactful parts of their work is the Honey Bee Route. “It’s our pollination program for individuals that want to help bees but often don’t have much space or live in town,” Shannon explained. “We place and maintain the hives. If extra honey is produced, the homeowners receive half of it, and the other half is offered to people seeking truly local, fresh honey. Homeowners can decide how many hives they are comfortable with and expand later if the property supports it.  Many clients become students. “We’ve had so many people reach out to learn how to become an apiarist, too. We encourage this alongside Bee Route and try to make it as easy for them as possible by providing the lesson with bee suits, smokers, and hive tools. We find people are more eager to jump in. It's gratifying to help someone build a relationship with bees, and we’ve even made some strong friendships along the way.”

Shannon & Jeremiah’s work is incredibly methodical. “We document everything to help prevent issues and navigate growth,” Jeremiah said. “Every two weeks, we log the activity on each hive: nectar flow, pollen levels, queen activity, hive beetles, and mite checks. Last year, five hives succumbed to colony collapse disorder, and our notes helped us determine what could be happening with honeybees.

Shannon & Jeremiah even go as far as to save honey samples from each year. “Honey can last a long time,  says much about what the bees were doing that year. In 2021, we got a rare surprise at one of our properties, jet-black honey. I know, we were even surprised. We still don’t know what the bees were pulling it from and have many speculations, but it was pretty tasty.”

The most crucial part of what Shannon & Jeremiah are doing alongside Bee Route is education & preservation. This often means even teaching kids. “It’s essential and fun to teach little ones. You see their faces light up when they touch wax comb or see the larva stages, and tasting honey straight from the hive is the best part. The memories we are building stick with them, and you never know when you’re helping quell a fear of bees or inspiring the next beekeeper. Those little minds could go on to help tackle some extensive issues bees are facing now and down the road.”

I asked Shannon what keeps them going. She didn’t hesitate: “It’s about giving back. Over the years, people have lost touch with nature, and naturally, what we don’t know, we fear. Bees are not out to fly up and sting on a whim. Honeybees can only sting once, and then they die. They don’t want to do it—it’s a last resort. Yet they’re still considered dangerous. We had a situation all too common: a family sprayed a whole swarm of honeybees with wasp spray. They were out of reach in a tree.

People don’t know that a swarm often lands in a temporary spot before flying off to one of the more permanent options they have already scouted out. In this situation, we arrived too late. We found the queen dying on the ground.” She paused. “People should be amazed when they see something happening like that. If we can stop that from happening, and give options to remove bees or even give them time to move themselves, then we’ve done something worthwhile.”

Their mission is not just about bees—it’s about reconnecting people with the natural world. “People change after spending time with bees,” Shannon told me. “They become more respectful, more observant, and slow down. Bees naturally have a calming effect on people. They are quite beautiful. One of our friends has gained a lot of respect for things with legs. She’s terrified of spiders, but I caught her one morning, excited to show me a large banana spider, and even took closer than normal pictures of her. She was sad to see her go when she finally moved on. I love that.” 

I left the farm inspired and reflective. There was something poetic about Shannon and Jeremiah's descriptions of their work—equal parts science, stewardship, and soulful intention.

To witness a hive is to understand interdependence. To meet a beekeeper is to understand devotion. And to taste local honey—real honey—is to realize that sweetness is never accidental.

To support what Shannon and Jeremiah are doing, you can follow the hive on Instagram @BeardedManBeeCo. Send them a message if you are interested in becoming a member of the Bee Route Program. 

Honey sales are first-come, first-served—available via Instagram messaging or text. They only harvest when the hives have excess honey: "We focus on the bees, not so much the honey. Honey is a treat, and we never take it all from the bees.” Shannon says. To purchase truly local, incredible honey, you can DM on Instagram or send a text to 941.993.9806 

Photos: iruphotos.com