Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided
Brian Frederickson
Ames Farm is a small honey farm and apiary with 450 bee hives in 20 bee yards spread over central Minnesota. They produce excellent honey products, along with apples and pears you may purchase at the Mill City Farmers Market. We talked to Brian Frederickson about the honey farm, single source honey and beekeeping classes. I can’t wait to have some Ames Farm honey on a hot breakfast biscuit!
Q: Please tell us about your honey farm and apiary. Did you grow up in a family of beekeepers?
A: I never had any exposure to beekeeping as a child; however, my grandmother Verna was a forager, gardener and lover of nature. She took me bumming as she called it – a drive through the rural area she lived her whole life, near Weyauwega, Wisconsin. I learned to identify plants, pollinators, trees, birds, and edible wild plants. But most importantly, she instilled in me the idea that nature is interconnected and that humans should tread lightly and show respect for the land and ecosystems we depend on to grow food and live.
In 1994 I purchased a small orchard of 800 trees on Oak Lake near Watertown, MN, from David and Shilon Bedford. David is the horticulturist at the U of MN who created the Honeycrisp, Zestar and First Kiss apples. The property came with some of the original Honeycrisp trees and two hives of honeybees.
I fell in love with beekeeping and how their rhythm is closely connected to the 4 seasons and progression of trees, shrubs and plants from spring to fall that provide pollen and nectar to the bees as food.
In terms of the success of Ames Farm, I want to highlight my incredible staff. I think they should get the bulk of the credit for our business – I am just the ring leader. Our incredible people have stayed with me for years when they could have probably made more money somewhere else – these are the people behind the scenes – I’m so grateful for them.
Q: What types of bees do you keep, and why did you choose them?
A: Honeybees are the only species kept by beekeepers in North America.
Q: What is single source honey and why is it an important product?
A: It is raw honey produced from a single hive from a single location and during a single time period. Nothing is added; no flavors or infusions. Just raw honey direct from the hive made in micro-batches by a 27-year-old artisanal process that no one has dared copy because of the insane amount of time and effort to keep the honey separate and package it with specific information to its origins. Here’s more information about the process.
Q: What products does your farm produce?
A: We produce raw honey, comb honey beeswax, pears and apples. We are at the Mill City Farmers Market but we also have an extensive wholesale business where our honey is sold at all of the metro area natural food coops and places like France 44, Surdyk’s Cheese Shop and Whole Foods Market. Our website features free shipping for all orders over $35.
Q: Do you offer any educational programs or workshops for those interested in learning more about beekeeping?
A: Yes, we do offer beekeeping classes in April and July – here’s some info on the programs and locations.
Q: How may we follow your news?
A: We’re on Instagram and Facebook.
Sign up for our newsletter, and visit us at the Mill City Farmers Market, too!
Becky Fillinger
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