Business is buzzing for beekeepers in Morehead

MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) – On a recent morning, Jim Coss could be found feeding his bees, giving them sugar and vitamins to keep them strong at a time when there are no flowers or of tree flowers to pollinate.

He has a few bee boxes in front of his store, “The Honey and Bee Connection”, and a hundred more in a field down the road.

Contrary to popular belief, bees do not hibernate in winter. Right now there are 10,000 to 15,000 bees crammed inside the boxes waiting for warmer days. Even though it is below zero outside, it will be over 90 degrees inside the hive.

“You have to have a bunch of bees in there to keep that heat in,” Jim said.

Jim had no intention of becoming the largest supplier of beekeeping equipment in Eastern Kentucky. It’s kind of
happened by accident when he decided to get two packs of bees in 2008 to help pollinate his fruit
trees. He became fascinated with watching bees at work and decided he wanted more.

The following year he traveled to Georgia for bees and friends to place orders as well.

“I went to get 25 packages, but by the time I got back I had 150 packages,” Jim said. “And they would come and pay me and see the gear I was building and start trying to buy my gear.”

It was then that he decided to go into the business of beekeeping supplies.

Today, The Honey and Bee Connection manufactures approximately 2,000 boxes each year and the metal
Encourage them. It’s a place to buy protective suits, honey extractors, books, jars and gifts.

Jim’s wife, Paula Coss, has also become an expert, helping with to-do lists.

She laughs that when they go to town they are known as “the bee man and his wife”.

They said that winter is the time to order bees and equipment. Those waiting for warmer days will be out of luck.

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Paula answers phone calls from people all over the United States looking for supplies and advice.

They love that there is new buzz about the benefits of beekeeping, whether people are doing it for honey or as a hobby. They said as long as you know what you’re doing, you don’t have to worry about getting bitten.

“Bees are on a mission to find nectar, pollen, or a food source,” Jim said. “That’s all they care about. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.

The Cosses may have worked their way into this business through trial and error, but now people are beeing line to their store to learn from some of the best. They said it was not just a store, but an area attraction. Many schools take field trips here, and in the summer there is an observation hive where visitors can observe the bees at work.