Doug & Katia Vincent

Beekind is owned and operated by Doug and Katia Vincent.

Doug Vincent became a beekeeper in 1998 after his garden continued to fail and he realized the cause was a desperate need for pollinators. He ordered bees and the following year his garden exploded as well as his passion and respect for honeybees. Joining the then “little" bee club in Sonoma County at the time, he recognized the amazing qualities of local and varietal honeys and the many other gifts our beloved honeybee brings to the table such as pollen, propolis, beeswax, royal jelly, bee venom and fascination. Doug then became immersed in the club learning himself and striving to educate the public at the fairs and events that the club participated in. Doug saw a need to make available a steady and local source for beekeepers to sell their honey and purchase supplies. After meeting with the club and getting the group’s approval, Doug and his wife Katia opened the Beekind Honey and Beekeeping Supply Shop in Sebastopol in 2004 right before the Honeybee crash of 2004-2005. Little did they know they would become Bee central for all local aspiring backyard beekeepers to offset the huge honeybee losses at that time and into the now. The once small Sonoma County Beekeeper’s Association has now grown to over 500 members. This growth has been seen across the country and the world as backyard beekeepers have risen to the call of saving the honeybee. Doug, his wife Katia, son Coral and several amazing employees continue to work in and around their store in Sebastopol providing education and making and selling all things bee: honey, beeswax candles, bees, supplies and gifts. Doug teaches introduction classes, but due to time constraints with his bees and business, leaves the mentorship and furthering education to the bee clubs. At Beekind, you will always find amazing local, varietal, regional and international honeys to taste until your heart is content.

dougandkatia

Photo by Rob Keller