Grow Local Tour: Bee Branch Creek Apiaries

Tom Stephan's honey bees don't know how lucky they have it.

Stephan, the owner of Bee Branch Creek Apiaries in Palm Harbor, refuses to use harsh chemicals or antibiotics to treat parasites and other bee maladies in his hives. And because his honey isn't over-processed like many chain store versions, his product still carries the natural health benefits of raw honey, he said.

Stephan told of his honey production process during the The Great Garden-to-Beer Trolley Tour, a recent Jolley Trolley charter tour, organized by Dunedin Community Garden volunteers, that sought to encourage and educate consumers on how to shop smarter, buy more locally-produced food and beverages, and how to ask the right questions about products. (Watch the Patch video above.)

Bee Branch Creek Apiaries was at the last stop.

The tour stopped at four local businesses — the Dunedin Community Garden, JJ Gandy's Pies in Palm Harbor, Jensen Bros. Seafood and 7venth Sun Brewing (with special guest Bee Branch Creek Apiaries).

Dunedin Patch stowed away on the three-hour tour and shared a video spotlight from each local company along the way. 

Previous stops: 

• Dunedin Community Garden
• JJ Gandy's Pies
• Jensen Bros. Seafood
• 7venth Sun Brewing Company

Sign up for the free Dunedin Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.