Cole’s Farm NC

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Cole’s Farm NC We are a veteran-owned, family-operated honey bee hobby farm located in the southwestern side of Onslow County in Eastern Carolina. Our goal is simple.
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📍 Jacksonville, NC Beekeeper
🍯 Raw NC Honey • Straight From the Hive
🌿 Spring Wildflower • Summer Sourwood
🐝 Swarm Relocations • Veteran Owned
🏅 Certified NC Journeyman Beekeeper
👇 Get a Jar of NC Honey We decided to name this venture after our son Cole in hopes that he will join us one day tending to the bees. We strive to share our passion through the delivery of raw, unprocessed local wildflower honey. We also specialize in honey bee swarm relocation and are proud members of the NCSBA. Jeff’s interest in becoming a beekeeper piqued in the Winter of 2016 after a co-worker, who just started beekeeping the year prior, kept talking about these fascinating creatures, honeybees. He read Beekeeping for Dummies and spoke to Mr. Floyd Parker, one of Onslow County's Master Beekeepers. Afterward, the decision was an easy one to become a Beekeeper.

🐝 From “ugly” comb to beautiful beeswax. 🕯️There is something pretty remarkable about what can come out of a beehive whe...
10/12/2026

🐝 From “ugly” comb to beautiful beeswax. 🕯️

There is something pretty remarkable about what can come out of a beehive when you’re willing to put in the work to recover it.

This is the final block of rendered beeswax from one of our recent batches, weighing somewhere around 15–20 pounds. But getting it to this point was anything but a one-step process.

The starting material was a mixture of wax cappings and old brood comb from recent dead-outs—material containing remnants of honey, propolis, pollen, cocoons, and plenty of other debris. It certainly doesn’t look like the beautiful golden wax you see here!

The wax was melted, separated, allowed to settle, and cleaned before going through the process again…and again…and again. This block was rendered approximately five times.

With every pass, more of the unwanted material was removed, transforming a messy collection of old comb and hive debris into a beautiful, solid block of usable beeswax. 🐝

It’s one of those lesser-seen parts of beekeeping that I really enjoy. There is something incredibly satisfying about taking a material that might otherwise be discarded and turning it back into something useful.

For now, we’re not selling our beeswax. We have a very practical use for every pound we recover.

We use our rendered wax to heavily coat our plastic foundation before putting it into our hives. That extra natural beeswax gives the bees a significant head start in the spring. Rather than starting with essentially bare plastic, they have a foundation already coated in real beeswax that encourages them to get to work drawing beautiful new comb.

From old comb…to clean wax…back to the bees. ♻️🐝

And if you’d like to see the process, I’ll be sharing a YouTube video later this month documenting how we turn that original “gross” material into this final block.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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🐝 From “Gross” to Golden: The Journey of Beeswax 🕯️This is one of the first runs through our new Steam Wax Melter, and I...
10/09/2026

🐝 From “Gross” to Golden: The Journey of Beeswax 🕯️

This is one of the first runs through our new Steam Wax Melter, and I thought it would be fun to share a little behind-the-scenes look at what beeswax actually looks like before it becomes that beautiful, bright yellow wax most people recognize.

When beeswax comes out of the hive, it’s rarely clean. What you see here is a mixture of old comb, cappings, propolis, pollen, honey, and other hive debris. At this stage, it certainly isn’t much to look at! 😂

So how does it become clean beeswax?

♻️ First comes rendering. Steam melts the wax, allowing it to separate from the comb and other material. The liquid wax drains away while much of the heavier debris remains behind.

🧺 Then comes straining. The rendered wax still contains plenty of fine particles, so it has to be filtered and strained to remove impurities.

🔄 And often… it needs to be rendered more than once. Depending on what is being processed, multiple passes and different levels of filtration may be necessary to get the wax progressively cleaner.

🌡️ Finally, it is allowed to cool and solidify. Once clean, the wax can be collected, stored, and eventually put to use in everything from candles and wax melts to woodworking products, cosmetics, and other value-added products.

One of the things I really enjoy about beekeeping is that very little goes to waste. What might look like a pile of old, dirty comb can actually be a valuable resource waiting to be recovered.

And this picture? This is just the first bite. 😁

There are still several steps between what you see here and that beautiful golden beeswax that comes out the other side. I’ll be sharing more of the process as we continue rendering and cleaning this wax—including the wax cappings we’ve saved from this year’s honey harvest.

From the hive… to the wax melter… and eventually, to something useful. 🐝♻️🕯️

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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Feeding 24 hives used to take way more time and effort than it should…So I built a system using a 55-gallon barrel, pump...
10/07/2026

Feeding 24 hives used to take way more time and effort than it should…

So I built a system using a 55-gallon barrel, pump, and hose—and it completely changed how I manage feeding in the bee yard 🐝💪

In this video, I walk through the entire setup and show how I mix and deliver 48 gallons of sugar water fast and efficiently.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/FtfV1Kgcutc?is=qJgqfoGLi4TiuujG

🐝♻️ Time to Render Some Wax!I’ve been patiently waiting to clean up several boxes from recent dead-outs, and now that th...
10/07/2026

🐝♻️ Time to Render Some Wax!

I’ve been patiently waiting to clean up several boxes from recent dead-outs, and now that the new Steam Wax Melter has arrived, it’s finally time to get to work!

I’m starting with these two 5-gallon bags of old comb and wax from colonies that didn’t make it through the season. Getting this material cleaned up is an important part of maintaining the apiary. Once the wax is rendered, the boxes can be properly cleaned, inspected, and put away until they’re needed again.

And this is just the beginning…

Once I work through the wax from these dead-outs, I’ll move on to the 10 gallons of wax cappings I’ve been saving from this year’s honey harvest. Cappings wax is some of the cleanest and most valuable wax produced in the honey house, so I’m looking forward to seeing how much beautiful beeswax I can recover.

One of the things I enjoy most about beekeeping is that there’s very little that truly goes to waste. Honey is harvested, wax is rendered, and even the materials left behind from a difficult colony can often be cleaned up and put to use again.

Now that I have the equipment to do it efficiently, I’m excited to put all of that wax to work! 🐝🕯️

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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🐝 Big things are happening at Cole’s Farm! 🍯After patiently waiting for the right time to expand our operation, a recent...
10/05/2026

🐝 Big things are happening at Cole’s Farm! 🍯

After patiently waiting for the right time to expand our operation, a recent shipment from HillCo arrived—and I’m pretty excited about what’s inside these boxes!

From left to right:

🍯 Honey Warming / Cooling Cabinet — giving me much more control over temperature during honey processing and future value-added products.

♨️ Steam Wax Melter — a new tool for efficiently reclaiming and processing beeswax, allowing us to make better use of a valuable byproduct of the beekeeping process.

🍯 9-Gallon Honey Creamer — the piece of equipment I’ve been especially eager to put to work as we begin developing small-batch creamed honey.

💧 Digital Refractometer — providing an accurate way to monitor honey moisture content and help ensure our honey is properly ripened and ready for bottling.

For a small operation like ours, investments like these are a big deal. They aren’t simply about buying more equipment—they’re about improving our ability to process what our bees produce, make better use of our resources, and eventually offer our customers a few new value-added products made right here at Cole’s Farm.

There’s still plenty to learn, experiment with, and fine-tune, but that’s part of the fun. 🐝

Now it’s time to put this equipment to work!

Stay tuned… there’s some sweet stuff coming! 🍯

💲Save some money on your next purchase with “colesfarm5”.

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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🐝🇻🇦 A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR BEEKEEPERS AROUND THE WORLD 🍯There are moments in beekeeping that remind us that what we do is...
10/02/2026

🐝🇻🇦 A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR BEEKEEPERS AROUND THE WORLD 🍯

There are moments in beekeeping that remind us that what we do is about so much more than honey.

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, a special Holy Mass for beekeepers from around the world will be celebrated at Borgo Laudato Si’ in Vatican City by Cardinal Baggio.

Then, on Monday, October 5, the Pope is scheduled to receive beekeepers from around the world in a private audience at the Vatican.

According to the organizers and publicly available records of the Holy See, there has never previously been an official private papal audience dedicated exclusively to beekeepers. That makes this a truly remarkable and historic occasion. 🐝🌎

The gathering, organized through the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and the European Beekeeping Association, will bring attention to the vital role honey bees play in our ecosystems, agriculture, and food supply.

The message is simple but incredibly important: let’s protect our pollinators—and let’s buy local honey. 🍯

Real honey comes from real bees, real flowers, and the dedicated work of beekeepers who care for their colonies and the land around them. Supporting local beekeepers helps sustain pollinators, agriculture, and our communities.

A special candle made in Slovenia will also be presented to the Pope—a beautiful symbol of beekeeping, tradition, community, and faith.

From a backyard hive here in North Carolina to apiaries around the world, beekeeping connects people across cultures and continents.

As a beekeeper, it is incredibly special to see our craft recognized on such an extraordinary international stage.

🐝 May this gathering inspire greater awareness of the importance of honey bees.

🌻 May it encourage us to protect the habitats they depend upon.

🍯 And may it remind us to support the local beekeepers who keep the bees.

What an incredible opportunity to let the world hear the buzz. 🇻🇦🐝

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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This might be my most complete honey harvest video yet… 🍯🐝It’s a long one (1 hour 40 minutes), but it shows the entire p...
09/30/2026

This might be my most complete honey harvest video yet… 🍯🐝

It’s a long one (1 hour 40 minutes), but it shows the entire process—from pulling supers, to extracting, to setting the bees up for fall.

And the amount of honey we pulled? It honestly surprised me.

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/sMukXHNsa-k

🐝 Back to the Varroa battle…If you saw my previous post, you saw me suited up and ready to continue the ongoing fight ag...
09/30/2026

🐝 Back to the Varroa battle…

If you saw my previous post, you saw me suited up and ready to continue the ongoing fight against Varroa mites. Here’s a closer look at what that actually looks like in the apiary.

This is my trusty InstantVap, inserted into the entrance of the colony while I administer a measured dose of oxalic acid (OA). The remainder of the entrance is temporarily blocked with a shop towel to help contain the v***r inside the hive long enough for it to do its job.

Technically, what’s happening here is sublimation, not simply “v***rizing.” The solid oxalic acid is heated and transitions directly into a gaseous state, allowing the treatment to distribute throughout the hive.

The goal is to expose the mites to oxalic acid while minimizing disruption to the colony. Oxalic acid is particularly useful against phoretic Varroa mites—the mites riding on adult bees—but it does not pe*****te capped brood. That’s one of the reasons timing and treatment strategy are so important when managing Varroa.

And this is a perfect example of why Varroa management isn’t a one-and-done chore. It requires monitoring, understanding mite biology, and taking action when the colony needs it.

There are plenty of treatment options available to beekeepers, and every operation has to determine what works best for its management style and local conditions. For me, the simplicity, cost effectiveness, and repeatability of oxalic acid sublimation with the InstantVap have made it a go-to tool in my Varroa management toolbox.

The battle continues. 🐝💪🏻

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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🐝🦠 THE BATTLE WITH VARROA CONTINUESJust a friendly update from the bee yard: the battle against Varroa mites is still on...
09/28/2026

🐝🦠 THE BATTLE WITH VARROA CONTINUES

Just a friendly update from the bee yard: the battle against Varroa mites is still ongoing. Unfortunately, Varroa is one of those challenges that beekeepers simply can’t afford to ignore.

For my colonies, one of my tried-and-true treatment methods is oxalic acid (OA) v***rization—or, more accurately, sublimation. Using my trusty InstantVap, I apply OA to the hive where it changes directly from a solid into a v***r, allowing it to reach areas throughout the colony.

There are certainly many products and treatment options available to help beekeepers manage Varroa mites, and different situations call for different approaches. For me, I really appreciate the simplicity, affordability, and effectiveness of oxalic acid when used appropriately.

And yes, the respirator is part of the process. 🫡 Safety matters—not just when working with bees, but anytime we’re working with treatments or chemicals.

Varroa management isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing part of responsible beekeeping, and staying ahead of these parasites is critical to maintaining healthy colonies.

The battle continues. 🐝💪🏻

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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🐝🍯 PACKING IT AWAYAnother full, heavy deep frame—and this one is practically wall-to-wall with beautifully capped honey....
09/25/2026

🐝🍯 PACKING IT AWAY

Another full, heavy deep frame—and this one is practically wall-to-wall with beautifully capped honey.

Frames like this never get old. Some of my colonies truly amaze me with how efficiently they capitalize on the nectar resources available around them. When the conditions are right and the forage is plentiful, these bees can bring in an incredible amount of nectar, process it, reduce its moisture content, and then seal it away with a layer of beeswax when it’s ready for long-term storage.

What you’re looking at here is essentially a pantry shelf for the colony. 🍯

A deep frame can hold a substantial amount of honey, and when nearly every cell is capped, you know the bees have been working hard to build up their food reserves. That stored honey is critical as the colony moves through periods when fresh nectar and pollen are less available.

It’s also a great reminder that honey production is really a partnership between the bees and their environment. Healthy colonies can only capitalize on what local plants provide—and when the nectar is flowing, they don’t waste much time taking advantage of it.

One frame at a time, one load at a time, these incredible little workers turn the resources of the surrounding landscape into something truly remarkable.

And this is just one frame. 🐝🍯

🐝 One link. All the buzz. ➡️ https://linktr.ee/colesfarmnc
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Address

200 Bribster Court N
Jacksonville, NC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm
Saturday 9am - 7pm
Sunday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+19103336585

Website

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