Honey the way bees actually make it.
Sweet Side Apiaries raises chemical-free bee colonies across Michigan and bottles what they produce — nothing added, nothing stripped out. We also sell hive equipment and teach beekeeping classes for anyone who wants to start their own colony.
Why folks buy from us instead of the shelf.
We're a small, hands-on apiary — every jar, hive box, and lesson comes from bees we tend ourselves.
Chemical-free colonies
Our bees are never treated with synthetic miticides or antibiotics, so what ends up in the jar is honey — full stop.
Everything to start a hive
Boxes, frames, suits, smokers, and live bee packages — we stock the gear beginners and veterans both reach for.
Classes that actually teach
Small-group beekeeping classes covering hive setup, seasonal care, and honey harvest — taught in the apiary, not a classroom.
From the hive to your kitchen table, one step at a time.
We keep the process simple and visible — no mystery ingredients, no long supply chain.
- Frames are pulled only when honey is fully capped and ripe.
- Honey is extracted cold and strained — never heated, never blended.
- Bottled in small batches so it reaches you close to the harvest date.
A small Michigan apiary, built one hive at a time.
Sweet Side Apiaries started with a simple idea: bees left to work the way nature intended produce better honey. We've built our whole operation, and everything we teach, around that belief.
Beekeeping, done the patient way
We manage every colony by hand — checking hive health, giving bees room to grow, and stepping in as little as possible. No synthetic treatments, no shortcuts, no forcing the season.
Raw and unaltered, jar to jar
We only harvest honey the bees have fully capped and ripened themselves, then extract and strain it cold. It's never heated, blended, or cut with syrup — what you taste is exactly what came out of the comb.
Gear we actually use ourselves
Every hive box, frame, and tool we sell is something we've tested in our own apiary first. We won't stock something we wouldn't trust with our own bees.
Passing the craft along
Beekeeping is a skill best learned hands-on. Our classes walk new beekeepers through hive setup, seasonal management, and harvesting — taught in small groups, right at the apiary.
What guides how we work
A handful of principles keep every jar and every class consistent.
Bee-first care
Colony health always comes before yield.
No shortcuts
No chemicals, no artificial feeding tricks.
Full transparency
Ask us anything about how honey gets to you.
Rooted in Michigan
Every hive we tend sits on Michigan ground.
Honey, bees, and everything a hive needs.
Three ways to work with Sweet Side Apiaries, whether you want a jar for your pantry or a colony of your own.
Raw Honey
Unfiltered, unheated honey harvested from our own Michigan hives, sold by the jar or in bulk.
- Wildflower & seasonal varietals
- Comb honey available seasonally
- Bulk pricing for restaurants & markets
Live Bees
Healthy, chemical-free bee packages and nucleus colonies to start or expand your own apiary.
- Locally-raised queens & packages
- Seasonal nucleus colonies (nucs)
- Pickup guidance included
Hive Equipment
Beginner-to-advanced hive equipment, tested in our own apiary before it ever hits the shelf.
- Hive boxes, frames & foundation
- Suits, gloves, smokers & tools
- Extraction & bottling supplies
New to beekeeping? Here's how our classes work.
A short, hands-on path from complete beginner to tending your own hive.
Hive basics
Learn hive anatomy, equipment, and what a healthy colony looks like.
Suiting up
Practice safe, calm hive inspections alongside our own bees.
Seasonal care
Understand feeding, swarm prevention, and winter prep.
Harvest day
Pull, extract, and bottle honey the same way we do.
Let's talk bees, honey, or equipment.
Call or email us directly — we're happy to help you pick a jar, plan a hive, or find a class that fits.
Call Us
Speak with us directly about orders, bees, or classes.
(517) 234-4181Email Us
Send questions, bulk orders, or class inquiries anytime.
sweetsideapiaries@gmail.comService Area
Serving beekeepers & honey lovers across Michigan
Best Way to Reach Us
Phone for fastest response, email for detailed orders