Sweet hobby: North Sewickley couple run honey business

Louise Carroll
Updated ·2 min read

NORTH SEWICKLEY TWP. ― The Brown Bear Honey Farm started as a cool thing to do during the pandemic and became a hobby business.

Brittany Edwards said recently she and her husband, Chad, always thought beekeeping would be a fun thing to do and one morning they just woke up and decided to go for it.

"We just loved doing it from the very first hive," Edwards said.

Chad and Brittany Edwards with their dog Koda in front of bee hives they are using to collect honey.
Chad and Brittany Edwards with their dog Koda in front of bee hives they are using to collect honey.

The business got its name from the furry member of the family a brown Chesapeake Bay Retriever whose name is Koda Bear Edwards. His picture appears on the logo, making customers take a second look when they expect to see a bear and instead, they see Koda Bear.

"Koda is just a curly brown honey bear and he enjoys being part of the business, following us to work on the hives and rolling around and eating beeswax," Edwards said.

Koda Bear Edwards in front of his owners' honey jars display, which includes his picture on the labels.
Koda Bear Edwards in front of his owners' honey jars display, which includes his picture on the labels.

In their driveway at 1505 Cherry Hill Road, they have a self-serve Honey Hut where customers can buy honey and honey products including Creamed Honey, which is easily spreadable, beeswax candles, bee pollen, and paw salve for dogs to protect them from salt and cold in the winter and hot concrete in the summer. They also have Honey Body Butter and hot honey that gets its heat from habanera peppers. The products are also for sale at local stores including Roots Health Shop in Ellwood City and Windy Ridge Dairy in Franklin Township.

The Brown Bear Honey Farm has grown to more than 60 hives, some at their farm and others at local farms. The husband and wife team share the beekeeping work.

Edwards said they will remove swarms at residences free of charge. The phone number is 724-814-6517.

"Recently we removed a swarm and there were a lot of kids watching. I had an extra bee suit along and the kids got to put it on and get their pictures taken. It was a learning experience for them and I enjoyed it, too," Edwards said.

Brittany Edwards collecting honey from Brown Bear Honey hives.
Brittany Edwards collecting honey from Brown Bear Honey hives.

Edwards was originally from Cranberry Township and Chad from the North Hills in Pittsburgh

Chad is a union ironworker who works 60 to 70 hours a week, but finds working the bees is relaxing.

Chad Edwards among several bee hives Brown Bear Honey uses.
Chad Edwards among several bee hives Brown Bear Honey uses.

"Bees are essential. They pollinate 45% of America's crops," Edwards said. "Let the dandelions grow as they are the first food the bees can get."

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Honey business started as hobby for North Sewickley Twp. couple