Exploring Life & Business with Eli Lichter-Marck of Eli’s Bee Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Lichter-Marck.

Hi Eli, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Eli’s Bee Company started as a father son business in Rustic Canyon, CA in 2008. Our continuing interest in honey bee biology and the ecology of the Santa Monica Mountains, where we live, propelled us from backyard beekeepers into a commercial honey bee business. We got our start by rescuing hives around LA County and turning those hives into the sustainable apiary we now manage. We currently work out of our home base in Topanga Canyon and manage apiaries all throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. We make local honey and pollinate orchards. We also collect fresh bee pollen and sell raw bees’ wax. Our newest endeavor includes launching educational programs to teach the community about beeping and pollinators in our environment.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We built our operation from the ground up. We have always prioritized our bees. Because of that our sales and marketing program has grown slowly. Some might say mimicking that of nature – organically. That means we made big investments in time, energy and funds early and have only recently begun to focus on expanding our sales reach. That has kept our company small and personal. We see that as an advantage, but its been difficult to sustain our activities.

Additionally, we have faced drought, wildfire, and floods and have suffered livestock losses due to deadly pesticide exposure, unhappy neighbors, and even bear attacks! Through all that we have persisted and grown organically over the years. Our bee hives numbers have steadily increased year over year and so has our skill and know-how.

We now regularly train a field crew and run 400-600 hives annually and deliver a product we are proud of to outlets all over LA County.

We’ve been impressed with Eli’s Bee Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Everything we do, we do for the good of All.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Our product connects people with our natural landscape and educates them about the importance of pollinators. We believe that sharing the magic of the bees attracts customers who appreciate an authentic product made by passionate people. This unique approach differentiates Eli’s Bee Company from other offerings on the market. We raise our own hives and harvest our own honey with a sensitivity to the natural world and a dedication to building a more resilient and interconnected community.

In our sustainable apiary, we try to attune our management to the needs of our honey bees. That allows us to produce honey with a personal touch. Our work and that of the bees is a labor of Love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elisbees.com
• Instagram: @elisbees