About

I am Michael of Ohio Valley Apiaries. OVA is located in the Ohio Valley on 200 acres near Franklin PA and on 1/4 acre in the Pittsburgh area. Several of my hives are situated in a field of Goldenrod and the honey from these hives is harvested at the end of fall.  Other hives I have are near a variety of wildflowers and the honey from these are harvested in summer and fall.  

I have had a great fear of bees since accidentally walking through a hive of yellow jackets and being stung more than 30 times when I was a child.  It was with a lot of apprehension when I started working with hives, and I always wear protective clothing and gloves to avoid stings.  A close friend began keeping honeybees about a decade ago. I was fascinated watching them fly in and out of the hive, carrying pollen on their legs.  I was encouraged to try it and agreed to a trial run in my yard at home, where I also enjoy gardening and growing food. 

My raspberry, blueberry, and green bean yields increased ten-fold that season and the honey was more delicious than anything I'd ever purchased.  One beehive turned into two... and it did not take long before I was planning expansions to 10 and 20 hives in multiple locations.  I began mentoring new beekeepers in 2017.  Each year brings something new.