2025 marks a milestone for us:
The 10-year anniversary at Gees Bees!
Many of you know our beekeeping journey began in 2009 when we discovered honeybees in the walls of our home, but do you know the rest of the story?
That serendipitous encounter sparked a passion, but it wasn’t until 2015 that Gees Bees was officially born. It all started with a simple yet exciting idea: to educate people about the incredible world of bees. With that spark of inspiration, we reached out to the Tulip Festival in May 2015, set up our very first educational booth, designed our logo, and printed a humble banner to introduce ourselves to the world:
Bee-ginnings: Gees Bees goes to Market
We hadn’t even officially sold a jar of honey—aside from sharing some with friends and family—but during our time at the Tulip Festival, so many people kept asking to buy some. Inspired by this interest, we set up a booth the very next weekend at the Great Glebe Garage Sale, once again to teach people about bees but this time to also sell honey. There, we met someone from the City of Ottawa who invited us to participate in the Mayor’s Rural Expo the following weekend. At the Expo, we connected with managers of several farmers’ markets, and before we knew it, we spent the rest of that summer sharing our honey and our passion for bees at the Manotick, Kemptville, and Constance Bay farmers’ markets.
From Farmers’ Markets to Backyard Buzz: The Evolution of Our Hive Programs
Those early days at farmers’ markets not only connected us with the community but also paved the way for new and exciting opportunities to grow and share our love for bees. That same year, we placed a beehive on the roof of the Brookstreet Hotel, which quickly caught the attention of the media. This led to a memorable news story with Leanne Cusack and a feature on Regional Contact with Joel Haslam. The buzz from these stories inspired us to take the next step in sharing our passion for bees: in 2016, we launched the Host a Hive program—a backyard beehive rental program designed to teach people about the fascinating world of bees, right in their own backyards.
Through this program, we met so many wonderful people eager to learn about beekeeping. However, as parents to a young child, managing over 200 hives across the region became increasingly challenging. After a couple of years, we transitioned to our Hive Share program, in partnership with Wesley Clover Parks, which offers people the opportunity to support and learn about honeybees without the need for a hive in their yard. This program continues to thrive today.
We're very grateful to our original hive hosts and to all of our past and current Hive Share participants. Your support has been instrumental in helping us build not only our educational initiatives but also our growing agritourism destination here at the farm.
Honey Gables: Gees Bees Finds Its Home
Our journey began in our original house, where we first discovered the bees that sparked our passion. While perfect for starting out, a rural residential neighborhood wasn’t ideal for our growing honey business. Gees Bees needed a farm of its own.
In 2017, we found the perfect fit at a National Capital Commission farm in the aptly named Ottawa suburb of Honey Gables. We rejuvenated the property with vibrant pollinator gardens and opened a cozy storefront in the farmhouse, welcoming visitors to shop, learn about bees, and connect with nature. This move also allowed us to bring our Hive Share program onsite, giving participants a chance to visit their hives and experience the magic of beekeeping firsthand. Honey Gables has become the heart of Gees Bees—a place where our love for bees and community thrives.
A Honeybee’s Sign: Navigating Stormy Waters
Back before Gees Bees began, while we were still dreaming of what could be, we went sailing on the Ottawa River. As we drifted in the middle of the water and talked about the future, a honeybee landed gently on my leg. It felt like a sign—a tiny nudge from nature telling us it was time to set our course and begin this adventure.
In retrospect, that moment on the boat was perhaps nature’s way of foreshadowing our business journey—a voyage that, much like sailing, has often meant navigating through uncharted and unpredictable waters. And we’ve certainly faced our share of storms—the harsh winter of 2018 that brought significant bee losses, the COVID-era pivots to curbside pickup, outdoor sales, home delivery, and online honeybee education. Most recently, in 2024, the winds shifted again as it became clear that the 100+ year-old farmhouse requires major structural repairs—the fate of which remains unclear—forcing us to relocate our shop into another building on the farm.
Through it all, we’ve learned that while we can’t control the wind, we can always adjust our sails. With resilience and your support, we’ve continued to move forward, letting the honeybee’s guidance inspire us every step of the way.
Creating a Place to Celebrate and Learn About Bees
As Gees Bees has continued to grow, so has our mission to create a place where people can connect with and learn about the magic of bees. Every summer, we look forward to welcoming our Hive Share participants to our annual Bee Days, and we're always looking for new ways to share our love of honeybees.
In 2022, we launched our See the Bees tours, inviting visitors to experience the wonders of a working hive up close. By 2023, we expanded our efforts with the opening of Ottawa Beekeeping Supplies, providing courses and equipment to support aspiring and experienced beekeepers alike. In 2024, we added an extra touch of sweetness to the farm with an ice cream stand, offering visitors a chance to enjoy a cone while strolling through the vibrant pollinator gardens.
Buzzing into the future with a decade of sweet memories
As we reflect on the past decade, we’re filled with gratitude for the opportunities, challenges, and incredible people who have supported us along the way. We can’t wait to see you in 2025—whether at the shop buying honey, as a Hive Share participant, on a See the Bees tour, or enjoying a cone in the gardens. Here's to another decade of learning, growing, and celebrating the magic of bees together. We can't wait to see what the next 10 years have in store!
We hope your 2025 is filled with peace, love, and prosperity!
Marianne & Matt Gee
