Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Wahl.
Hi Elizabeth, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
McKnight Bee Products has been years in the making. I’ve been fascinated by bees for years, but things really started coming together in 2018 when I visited an orchard in Germany. They worked closely with local beekeepers to keep both the trees and the bees thriving, and that really stuck with me.
A year later, I had the opportunity to join a beekeeping workshop and met a few local hobbyists who became great resources. Then in the spring of 2020, we set up our first hive. To our surprise, we were able to harvest honey that summer and by the next year, we had enough to notice two distinct flavors: one from summer blooms and another from fall foliage. We were giving jars away to friends and family.
The turning point came when we took our honey and homemade beeswax candles to a Maker’s Market at The Heights. The response was incredible, and that pushed us to start sharing on social media and launch the e-commerce site we have today.
What motivates me now is seeing how something so small, like a bee, can have such a big impact on the environment and on people’s lives. I love working with the bees and they have even helped us branch out to new products with a lush patch of lavender that has led to expanding the product line. Every jar of honey feels like a way to share our story. It’s not just about selling a product, it’s about building a community that appreciates nature and supports local.
Today, we’ve grown to multiple hives and we’re always learning and evolving. It’s been an amazing journey from a simple curiosity to a full-fledged business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Learning to catch swarms, especially when they are close to power lines, was a challenge, and we’ve lost hives along the way, which is always hard. On top of that, I discovered I have a honeybee venom allergy after catching a swarm and brushing off what I thought was a leaf. It resulted in an ER visit, so I’ve had to start immunotherapy to keep doing what I love safely.
Those challenges strengthened my resilience and adaptability. The allergy reminded me how important preparation and safety are and made me realize how much I love being a beekeeper. I have a great allergist who is supportive and never suggested to quit beekeeping, but instead is helping me get back at it, while I get much needed help from my husband and co-founder. Every setback has made me a better beekeeper and deepened my commitment to this work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about McKnight Bee Products?
McKnight Bee Products is really about high-quality, all natural products that are given extreme care at every step. We offer raw honey, beeswax candles, and handmade lavender products, all crafted with care. What makes us different is that the honey comes straight from our hives, the lavender comes from our own garden, and we make it easy to purchase through our website.
Our honey is small-batch and seasonal, so the flavors change depending on what’s blooming. The Summer Harvest Honey tastes completely different from the Fall Harvest Honey, and that’s something our customers love. Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve stayed true to being natural and eco-friendly while creating products people genuinely enjoy.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s that when you buy from us, you’re not just getting a product, you’re getting something that was given extreme care and attention. For many products they are years in the making from a lavender plant to a finished product and from a tended beehive to carefully harvested honey and beeswax.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is making a positive impact and delivering quality. Bees are vital to our ecosystem, so protecting pollinators and educating others about sustainability drives everything we do. And when it comes to our products, quality is non-negotiable. We’re not just throwing honey in an old mayo jar to get it out the door. Every jar, candle, and lavender product reflects care, craftsmanship, and respect for nature.
Our brand values center on sustainability and responsibility. Everything we sell is packaged in a way that it is either reusable or recyclable, because we believe great products shouldn’t come at the expense of the planet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mcknightbeeproducts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcknightbees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McKnightBeeProducts
