Oak Cliff Bee Company

07/09/2026

We just got the science back on our honey.

Texas A&M's Palynology Research Lab counted the pollen in honey samples from across Dallas–Fort Worth — grain by grain, under the microscope — to reveal exactly what our bees are foraging.

Some hives produced a rich, wildly diverse honey: sumac, wild carrot, Virginia creeper, mustard, willow, all in one jar. Others came back as clean single-source honeys — 98% from one bloom. Every site told a different story.

That's the whole point of hyper-local honey: a hive's jar is a direct fingerprint of the landscape around it — and now we can prove it in a lab report, not just a marketing line.

Grateful to Dr. Heather Thakar and the Texas A&M team.

Most bee providers stop at "we put hives on your roof." Bare-minimum beekeeping gets you a jar with no chain of custody.

Oak Cliff Bee Company hands you Texas A&M lab results—a story you can include in your ESG report, backed by science at no extra cost.

Ready to see what your property actually produces? Let's connect; buzz us anytime at [email protected]

06/29/2026

Healthy hives do not happen by accident—and neither do better bees.

This year, we have invested more intentionally in queen genetics across our operation.

We source production queens from programs including Golden West and Indian Summer Honey Farm, and we work with CNC Honey Farm, whose colonies are built on Latshaw Apiaries genetics. Each line brings different strengths: temperament, brood production, honey production, overwintering ability, hygienic behavior, and the ability to better manage Varroa pressure.

But good genetics are only one part of good beekeeping.

North and Central Texas bring a long brood season, intense heat, dearth, drifting, and heavy Varroa pressure. There is no single “treatment-free” queen or shortcut that solves all of that.

Our goal is straightforward: colonies calm enough for schools, hotels, rooftops, and public-facing properties—while remaining productive, resilient, and healthy going into fall.

That means measuring what matters:
• Consistent mite testing
• Queen retention and brood quality
• Temperament during inspections
• Honey production
• Swarm tendency
• Performance through summer dearth
• Fall strength and overwintering success

You do not improve bees by guessing. You improve them by testing, tracking, selecting, and continually raising the bar.

Ask your bee provider:

What queen genetics are they using, and why?
How often are they testing for Varroa?
Can they show you the results?
What are they doing to improve the long-term health and performance of your hives?

Healthy hives are not a promise. They are the result of consistent care, thoughtful genetics, and accountable management.

Want a bee company that does the work and is invested in the success of your hives? Let’s talk.

06/29/2026

Is your bee provider REALLY taking care of the bees?

As we wrap up this year’s honey harvest, the real work continues behind the scenes: testing Varroa mite loads, documenting colony health, and treating when the numbers call for it.

Varroa mites are one of the biggest threats facing honey bees today. They weaken colonies directly and spread viruses that can quickly turn a strong-looking hive into a failing one. Left unmanaged, mites can overwhelm a colony—especially as bees begin preparing for fall and winter.

This year, much of our mite management will use oxalic acid (OA)—an organic acid naturally found in plants such as spinach—applied through vaporization and extended-release methods.

We are also evaluating newer tools, including Norroa’s RNA-based treatment and Apivar 2.0, as part of our ongoing effort to protect colony health and improve outcomes.

Healthy hives do not happen by accident. They require consistent inspections, testing instead of guessing, timely feeding, space management, queen evaluation, and responsible mite control.

Honey is what people see. Bee care is everything happening behind the scenes.

Ask your bee provider:

When was the last time they tested your hives for Varroa?
Can they show you the actual test results and mite counts?
Are they testing consistently throughout the season—not just once?
What is their treatment plan when mite levels rise?

Because if they cannot answer those questions, are they really taking care of your bees?

06/12/2026

Beekeepers do CPE too.

This week, Shannon is in Connecticut completing her Level 1 Honey Sommelier certification, training under Marina Marchese, the leading voice in honey tasting and sensory education.

Honey is a lot more than “sweet.” It tells the story of a place — the flowers, the season, the weather, and the bees that made it.

At Oak Cliff Bee Company, we’re always working to get better at both sides of the craft: caring for bees and helping people understand the value of what they produce. We’re committed to bringing the best knowledge, experience, and service we can to our customers.

Proud of Shannon for continuing to sharpen her skills and bring that knowledge back to our clients, chefs, students, and community partners.

06/12/2026

Honored to be featured by Advocate Magazine and grateful for everyone who has been part of this journey.

What started with a few beehives and a love for beekeeping has grown into a way for companies, schools, hotels, and nonprofits to bring nature a little closer to people.

For us, the bees are about more than honey. They create moments for people to learn, gather, ask questions, support pollinators, and see the natural world working right in front of them.

Every hive tells a story. Every harvest starts a conversation. And every bee is a small reminder that caring for the environment can be simple, local, and something people actually feel connected to.

Thank you to our clients, partners, and supporters who have trusted us to be part of that work.

Winnetka Heights neighbor Chris Chance says he started working with bees at exactly the wrong time. “Didn’t go so great right out of the gate,” he says. “But you know, learned from my mistakes, and kind of got pretty good at it. Well, I

06/11/2026

The roster is set.

Today, approximately 50,000 new players took the field in our FIFA hive.

Their uniforms are black and gold.
Their stadium is a hive.
Their fans are anyone who enjoys flowers, food, and a healthy environment.

While the world prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026, these athletes will spend the next few weeks covering thousands of acres, pollinating plants, supporting biodiversity, and helping keep North Texas blooming.

Every great team needs a strong midfield. Ours just happens to fly.

05/26/2026

Movin’ on up — the bees officially got a housing upgrade at Prime Data Center in Dallas.

Today, Oak Cliff Bee Company installed new custom-painted hives at a Prime Data Centers campus, bringing pollinator health, biodiversity, and real-world sustainability initiatives directly into a mission-critical environment.

These programs go beyond a plaque on the wall. They create visible, measurable environmental impact while supporting:

* Biodiversity and pollinator health
* ESG and sustainability initiatives
* Tenant and employee engagement
* Environmental education and awareness
* Hyper-local, micro-sourced honey production

Prime data centers are among the most advanced facilities — sustainability infrastructure should evolve alongside them.

And apparently, even bees appreciate premium real estate.

05/21/2026

We're at the BOMA Dallas Trade Show TODAY — 3 to 7 PM!

Come find us and let's talk:

- Bees & honey — from hive to harvest
- Corporate hive management programs
- Stinger-X — our chain-of-custody honey tracking app
- HIVE (Hive Inspection and Verification Engine) — reporting tools for LEED, ISO, and other building certifications

Saw us on LinkedIn or Instagram? Tell us when you stop by — we've got something sweet for you.

Whether you own or manage a property, care about sustainability, or are just curious about bees — we'd love to connect. Stop by, say hi!

05/19/2026

At Oak Cliff Bee Company, we don't just manage hives — we create experiences your tenants won't stop talking about.

We offer a rotating menu of events that bring people together around the hive:

-Mead Making Workshops — Tenants craft their own honey wine from scratch, learning fermentation, flavor, and the ancient craft behind every bottle.

-On-Site Hive Tours — Suited up and hands-on, tenants go inside a live hive, pull frames, and see a working colony up close. Nothing else compares.

-Bee Education Sessions — From pollination to colony behavior to why bees matter to the food system, these sessions leave people genuinely informed — and genuinely hooked.

-Honey Tastings — Single-origin, varietal, local — tenants explore the surprising complexity of honey and walk away with a completely different appreciation for what's in the jar.

Every experience is designed to fit your property, your tenants, and your culture. No two events feel the same — and that's exactly the point.
We partner with commercial properties, schools and hotles across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and Austin to turn common spaces into conversations that last long after the event ends.

If you're thinking about what makes your building worth staying in — let's talk. Buzz us anytime at [email protected]
Oak Cliff Bee Company | Dallas–Fort Worth & Austin, TX