Stone Hill Honey

 Paul & Betsy Stone started beekeeping in 2001 with just 4 hives of honeybees.  By the end of the first year they decided on a name for the farm 'STONE HILL HONEY'.  Paul said they would never have over 30 hives, but by 2008 this small bee farm has grown to over 150 hives.  He plans to expand to at least 200 in 2010. 

Stone Hill Honey's Motto "sweeter by nature" tells it all

when it comes to how Paul and Betsy Stone feel about their love for the honeybee and nature.     

Diversification in Beekeeping at Stone Hill Honey 

When Paul learned there was a need for pollination by area fruit and vegetable farmers 5 years ago, he had to give it a try.  He now has pollination contracts in the tri-county area for at least 100 hives which includes Spring and Fall pollination. 

Betsy decided to add agritourism after attending a few other farm tours and workshops at one KWIA conference, so they now offer group Bee Farm Tours which start in April and are available until the end of October.   She developed the tour using the KY educational core curriculum skills program as a guide and continues to add something different each year. 

Paul also learned to graft and raise his own queens and now sells them  in several states (and seasonal five frame nucs to local beekeepers). 

Our Growing Farm 

In the Spring of 2008, Paul & Betsy decided to expand their small home garden to approx. 1/2 acre of vegetables and try their luck at selling honey and vegetables at the local farmers market  three days a week while keeping their country store open parttime.

In the Spring of 2010, a 2nd  high tunnel will be added so some of those vegetables are ready for market earlier and the garden will grown to over an acre. 

Paul and Betsy have also changed the days and time their country store is open to offer their customers a better chance to shop at the store and not interfere with the farmers market.

The theme for their Bee Farm Tours in 2010: in the Spring "Planting the Seed" and in the Fall "Pumpkins in Harvest".