Local Beekeeper David Wood, Sr. acquired his knowledge of beekeeping in his adolescence while assisting his father with his commercial beekeeping business in California. As an adult he embarked on his beekeeping journey in 2006, following a storm that caused a tree to collapse in a neighbor’s yard, revealing a concealed hive of swarming bees. During this period bees were scarce, prompting Wood to act swiftly to secure and relocate the bees into a new hive. Wood now cultivates honey from these hives, which he markets at the local Artisan Market. He named his apiarist business Bee Blessed to express his gratitude to the Lord and stated, “The Lord should BEE in all things we do.” The concealed swarm not only marked the beginning of his beekeeping venture, but he also assists others interested in beekeeping through monthly meetings held at the First Baptist Church every second Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. In his wisdom he says its not merely just a hobby; like the worker bees, maintaining the hive takes time and effort to sustain, particularly during colder seasons a against some of their natural adversaries like varroa mites, wax moths, and small hive beetles that can jeopardize a hives success. David invites anyone with an interest in the meetings to join in learning, Q & A and Bee fellowship.