Clare and Dave Carter operate a sweet award-winning business.
The Rocky Mountain Honey Farm has been a labour of love for the couple, who recently won first-place awards at the Western Apicultural Society’s Northern Lights Beekeeping Conference and Trade Show in Calgary.
The Carters entered their honey in light, dark and cut-comb categories, winning first place in dark and cut comb.
Over its 45-year history, the Western Apicultural Society has built a large community of beekeepers from three provinces, 14 western U.S. states and the great Yukon Territory. Members meet to educate and encourage beekeepers who often endure similar western challenges – mountains, frequently sparse rainfall, irregular Pacific currents, distant marketing, and scattered customers.
This year, the annual WAS Conference and Trade Show took the uniqueness of geography a step further with a focus on The North.
The theme, Northern Lights Beekeeping, was intended to focus on beekeeping in the land of long summer days and cold winter nights.
Situated in Castledale, just south of Parson, the Carters bought Rocky Mountain Honey Farm seven years ago from the original German couple who began the business in 1997.
Now a successful business for 26 years, the Carters specialize in artisanal honey. Unlike many other producers, the couple’s bees do not forage on food crops but rather on naturally occurring, nectar-bearing plants and trees from the west facing slopes of the Rockies.
“Getting into beekeeping was a spur of the moment leap into adventure,” said Clare, pointing out Dave was keen on finding a new career after 25 years in a job that included graveyard shifts. “We decided to invest in ourselves.”
The pair had enjoyed the honey for 15 years and didn’t want to lose the fabulous product from the valley and the former owners were willing to mentor them.
“It has been an amazing adventure. So much to learn, but so much success,” Clare said. “It was a blessing to embark on a business like this.”
But, as well as letting people know there is award-winning honey in the valley, the couple is ready to pass the business along to the next generation and pursue another adventure for themselves.
“It’s a very rich area for bees to wild forage and our production is often above national average,” Clare added.
“In our case, we’re very much a micro apiary with a focus on honey for honey’s sake.”
Rocky Mountain Honey Farm liquid and creamed honey is available by the jar or pail, as is cut-comb honey, which is dependant on the richness of the season.
The Carters also sell pollen, handmade beeswax candles and unprocessed, raw propolis for people to make their own preparations.
The products are sold at farmers markets in Golden and Invermere, a few retail locations and at the farm gate.
Rocky Mountain Honey Farm is located at 4844 Arnold Rd. in Castledale and operating hours are by chance or by appointment.
For more information or to express an interest in purchasing the business, send an email to rockymtnhoneyfarm@gmail.com or call 250-348-2043.
READ MORE: Shred Sisters unleashes pride for women in Golden
