Meet Dave!
Hi, I’m Dave Zimmermann, and I got into beekeeping for two very practical reasons: my garden needed pollinators, and my sinuses needed a break.
In 2015, I bought one package of bees and set up a single hive in my backyard. I’d heard local raw honey can help with seasonal allergies, and I’d suffered from them for years, so I started taking a tablespoon every morning. I haven’t touched an allergy pill in years. Not a bad return on one box of bees.
That single hive has since multiplied, as hives do, and I’m now up to 20 across West Michigan. I run a hive rental and mentoring program, serve as president of the Grand Rapids Area Bee Club, have safely removed bees from more than 80 homes and yards, and teamed up with The Inn at Stonecliffe on Mackinac Island, where beekeeping classes and local honey are part of the guest experience.
Early on, I learned that honey bees are fascinating, and I haven’t stopped talking about them since. Ask me one question and you’ll get a few extra facts for free. I love sharing what I know, because the more people understand bees, the more they appreciate everything these tiny workers do for us every day.
How I Can
Help You
If you have a swarm of bees in your yard, the first thing is to be sure they are honey bees and not yellow jackets. If they are honeybees I can come safely capture them for you. If you still aren't sure, Raid® has an excellent insect ID tool.
As a licensed builder specializing in remodeling, if honey bees have moved into your home I can open up the area, remove them, and close up the area properly - sealing it so other bees can't move in.
