Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Midgett.
Hi Craig, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My beekeeping journey began shortly after we moved out of the Spring Hill, TN suburbs in 2016 and found a home on 3 acres in northern Maury County. We wanted to experience a little “country life” while keeping our then elementary-aged children close to good schools, special needs services, and their friends. We soon had a nice vegetable garden, chickens, ducks, and a few goats. In the fall of 2016, my wife and I attended a 2-day beginning beekeeper course to learn the basics.
The following March, we purchased and prepped our equipment and got our first two honey bee colonies! We took it slow the first few years, but after a local move in 2020, a month before Covid started, things really picked up. I began solely keeping honey bees while my wife home schooled our special needs daughter, and my learning and passion for these fascinating creatures took off. That year I grew to 6 colonies, then to 13 in 2021, 18 in 2022, and 28 in 2023. I caught swarms, learned to make splits and raise queens and learned to be a bee “keeper” instead of just a bee “haver”. I learned to manage my colonies better to decrease swarming, increase colony health, and make more honey. In 2024 and 2025, I kept around 40 colonies, and currently, I have over 50 colonies in 5 apiaries around Maury County.
In 2020, I discovered Hives for Heroes, a non-profit organization that uses beekeeping to provide connection for Active Duty, Veterans, and First Responders to people and resources to support them in beekeeping. This includes 1:1 mentoring relationship, scholarships to offset financial barriers in beekeeping (it is NOT a cheap hobby to start), reimbursement of Master Beekeeping Certification courses, and increasing access to a network of Veterans and First Responder support organizations. Hive for Heroes not only serves its members but also serves our honey bee population by building better beekeepers. I currently mentor 4 veterans, 3 of which harvested their own honey this year! I am also now the State Leader in Tennessee, supporting member in our state, attending state and local events, and keeping a presence on social media to reach future NewBees and encouraging mentors to serve the community.
Also in 2020, my wife and I started a farm stand we named Spring Haven Homestead which has become my apiary name and now focuses on beekeeping and hive products. Since 2023, I’ve increased honey production from a couple hundred pounds a year to over 1400 pounds in 2026. In addition to selling raw, local honey direct to consumer and through some retail partners, I also provide nucleus colonies (starter colonies for new beekeepers), varietal honeys from other areas of the US, hot honey, bourbon, rum, and TN whiskey barrel aged honeys, beeswax, bee pollen, and propolis tincture. In the last few years, I have been able to generate enough revenue through beekeeping that what was formerly a hobby now supports itself and allow for further growth without accessing funds from our household income.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There is no such thing as a smooth road in beekeeping. Beekeeping has very steep learning curve. Continued education and connection with the local beekeeping community for support and mentorship is vital to be successful, do it well, and keep bees alive. It’s very discouraging to lose colonies especially to beekeeper error but each of those failures is an opportunity to learn and grow, and either correct mistakes or learn a better way. I stay active in local club meetings, learn from some particularly wise and experienced beekeepers with YouTube channels, and attend the very large North America Honey Bee Expo each year to gain more knowledge. Every year I’ve kept bees, I’ve learned many new things that have given me more tools for success.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
In 2020, my wife and I started a farm stand side-hustle named Spring Haven Homestead which has become my apiary name and now focuses on beekeeping and hive products. Since 2023, I have increased honey production from a couple hundred pounds a year to over 1400 pounds in 2026. While I do sell raw, local honey direct to consumer and through some retail partners, I go beyond the typical hobby beekeeper in providing a wider array of products such as nucleus colonies (starter colonies for new beekeepers), special varietal honeys from other areas of the US, hot honey, bourbon, rum, and TN whiskey barrel aged honeys, beeswax, bee pollen, and propolis tincture. In the last few years, I have been able to generate enough revenue through beekeeping that what was formerly a hobby now supports itself and allows for further growth without accessing funds from our household income. One goal of mine to this point has been to be known as the “honey guy” around Spring Hill and Columbia, to be tagged whenever someone asks in a community group where to find the best local honey. Having achieved that, and having doubled my honey production from the previous year, I will now be seeking relationships with more local retail partners.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Always be learning. Beekeeping has a very steep learning curve and learning from other people smarter than you is vital. Realize that you are fallible and need help. Bounce ideas off of others who have done more and seen more than you. And as you learn, SHARE what you’ve learned with others to strengthen the abilities of newer beekeepers so hopefully then may avoid your mistakes.
Pricing:
- local, hot, and varietal honeys, $16
- Barrel aged honeys, $22
- Bee pollen, $25
- Nucleus Colonies, $225
- Beeswax, $14
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigmidgett
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringHavenTN
