Cole’s Farm NC

06/05/2026

🍯 2026 Spring Honey is HERE! 🍯

We’re excited to officially announce that our 2026 spring honey harvest is now available for purchase!

This year’s honey is something special—clean, golden, and straight from the hive.

The first honey crop was harvested on May 10th and the second on May 30th.

While you can still catch us in person at the Onslow County Farmers Market on the first Saturday of the month and soon at the Holly Ridge Open Air Market on the third Saturday, our market schedules are subject to change.

The best and easiest way to purchase is through our website:

Order here 👉 https://coles-farm-nc.square.site

🛒 Pickup made simple:

* Default pickup is set for the next day at 9 AM
* BUT you can easily adjust your pickup time in the cart
* Choose a time as soon as 2 hours after ordering, or anytime within the next 7 days

As always, thank you for supporting local, raw honey and our beekeeping mission here at Cole’s Farm. We truly appreciate every one of you!

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

06/03/2026

🐝 Honey, swarms, and bottling—all in one day.

In this video, I head back into the second half of the bee yard to pull any remaining honey supers that are ready for harvest.

I honestly expected more… but that’s beekeeping. You work with what the bees give you, and this time it still added up to 100+ pounds of fresh spring honey from three medium supers and one deep.

But that’s just the beginning.

I also check two swarm traps and transfer both colonies into my stacked five-frame nuc system:
👉 One swarm has been in place for about 3 weeks
👉 The other moved in just about a week ago

From there, I walk through my full honey processing setup—uncapping equipment, cleanup behavior from the bees, and my bottling workflow.

And to finish it off, I show my bottling process using the Hill Co Speed Fill system.

It’s a full look at what’s happening right now in the bee yard—from harvest to swarm management to getting honey into the bottle.

🎥 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/L6LlpNxQioE
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

In this video, I’m back in the bee yard working through the second ...

06/03/2026

🐝 Swarm season is still in full swing—and this is a perfect example of what that can look like.

This swarm landed on a split rail post last Tuesday, and while it may look intimidating at first glance, this is actually one of the most gentle and docile phases in a honeybee colony’s life cycle. When bees swarm, they are focused on protecting their queen and finding a new home—not on being aggressive.

That means there’s no need to panic.

If you come across a swarm like this, the best thing you can do is simply give us a call. We typically respond within a few hours, assess the situation, and in many cases, can safely relocate the swarm the very same day.

To reach us, please use our business number: 910-333-6585.

Our voicemail will guide you—just leave a message or send a text with the following:
• Property address
• Whether you are the homeowner
• When you first noticed the swarm
• Photos or videos (if you’re comfortable sharing them)

Every swarm is an opportunity—not just to help the bees, but to educate and support our community.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

06/01/2026

🐝 There’s something special about taking the next step in beekeeping—and for me, that step looks like a countdown.

One month from now, this newly acquired Big Tex 70PI utility trailer will be loaded up and heading west with the bees in pursuit of one of North Carolina’s most iconic nectar flows: Sourwood—and I can’t help but be excited for what’s ahead.

This isn’t just about moving hives… it’s about chasing a moment in time that only comes once a year.

For those who may not be familiar, sourwood trees bloom in the higher elevations of southwestern North Carolina, typically from late June through mid-July depending on elevation and weather. The nectar they produce is what gives us that highly sought-after sourwood honey—light in color, smooth, buttery, and often considered one of the finest honeys in the world.

Migratory beekeeping like this takes planning, patience, and a willingness to adapt:
• Timing the move to align with bloom conditions
• Transporting colonies safely during the summer heat
• Selecting apiary locations that balance access, forage, and protection
• And ensuring the bees can quickly settle in and go straight to work

This trailer represents more than just equipment—it’s an investment in growth, in learning, and in giving the bees the best opportunity to thrive during a critical nectar flow.

There’s a lot that goes into chasing honey like this… but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding.

Looking forward to sharing more from the mountains soon. 🍯🐝

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

05/29/2026

🐝 A few finishing touches in the Honey House…

Finally got around to putting something together that I’ve been meaning to do for a while—displaying some of our published stories on acrylic.

It’s easy to stay focused on the day-to-day work in the bee yard, but taking a step back and seeing these moments captured and shared… it means a lot.

From the first hive to where things are today—this has been a pretty special journey.

Grateful for the opportunities, the support, and the chance to share a little bit of this beekeeping life along the way.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

05/27/2026

🐝 Not every “queenless” hive is actually queenless…

In this video, I go back through several hives that I flagged during my last inspection—and take a closer look to see what’s really going on.

Sometimes you find exactly what you expected…
Other times, you realize you may have jumped the gun.

I also officially kick off this year’s honey harvest—but with a big change from last season.

Instead of pulling everything at once (and paying for it later 😅), I’m working in smaller batches this year—making things a whole lot more manageable.

Plus, I finally get to share some new equipment I’ve been looking forward to putting to use.

A lot of good lessons in this one.

🎥 Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/TYSirS2wcBE
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

In this video, I go back through several hives that I previously suspected were queenless to see what’s really going on.Anytime a colony shows signs of being...

05/27/2026

Right in the middle of this frame… 👀🐝

That’s a perfectly formed queen cell — the colony’s way of saying they’re making big decisions.

What looks like “open space” on this frame isn’t empty at all. Those uncapped cells are already filled with eggs and developing larvae. A strong queen can pack a frame fast, and when space runs out, the bees respond.

That’s when you start seeing signs like this — congestion, pressure, and the colony preparing to raise a new queen.

Nature doesn’t wait… and these bees are always one step ahead.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 🇺🇸

Out here on the farm, surrounded by hardworking bees and the land we love, we’re reminded that freedom—like a thriving hive—depends on dedication, sacrifice, and unity.

Today, we reflect with gratitude and carry their legacy forward in all that we do.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

05/25/2026

🐝 From swarm… to THIS in just about two weeks.

This frame was just recently transferred from a swarm trap into five-frame equipment, and it’s a perfect example of how fast a swarm can get established.

Fresh, beautifully drawn wax… and already being put to work.

When a swarm moves into a new home, they don’t waste any time—the goal is simple: build fast and get the queen laying.

Here are a few cool facts about swarm colonies:

🍯 Before leaving their original hive, bees will load up their honey stomachs with nectar or honey—fuel for the journey and wax production

🏠 Scout bees are responsible for finding the new home and guiding the swarm to it

🧱 Swarms are wax-building machines—drawing comb incredibly fast so the queen can begin laying

👑 The queen typically starts laying very quickly once comb is available

It’s one of the most impressive things to witness in beekeeping—pure teamwork and efficiency.

🎯 Have you ever caught a swarm and watched them build this fast?

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻

05/22/2026

🍯 Now THIS is what we’ve been waiting for.

A completely capped deep frame—top to bottom, side to side—sealed with that beautiful, light wax.

This is the moment every beekeeper looks forward to. It means the bees have done their job… and done it well.

After weeks of hard work during the nectar flow, everything is coming together just right—and it shows.

And here’s the best part…

🐝 Our first honey haul of the season was May 10th, and we officially have honey available for purchase!

If you’ve been waiting on fresh, local spring honey, now’s the time.

Small batches. Straight from the hive. Nothing added.

🍯 Don’t wait too long—it tends to go quick.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
_____________________________________________
🏡👨🏼‍🌾🐝🇺🇸👍🏻