GLOUCESTER SEA HIVE

Welcome to The Sea Hive

Rooted in coastal Gloucester, Massachusetts, the Gloucester Sea Hive is a small-scale apiary founded on stewardship, sustainability, and community. We started with two hives and a commitment to grow with care—guided by the rhythm of the seasons, the hum of healthy bees, and a deep respect for the land and life we share it with.

Our first colonies are thriving, and we’re laying the foundation for seasonal honey harvests, handcrafted beeswax goods, personal/corporate beehive management, and educational offerings to help new beekeepers get started.

Whether you’re here to watch us grow, host a hive of your own, or learn what it means to thrive alongside the bees—thank you for stopping by. You’re part of the hive now.

support black veteran woman beekeeper with this Gloucester themed tee shirt

Show Your Hive Pride

Every shirt sold helps fund the real work happening at Gloucester Sea Hive—supporting our bees, equipment, and slow-growth approach to sustainable beekeeping.

This design is printed direct-to-garment (DTG) on soft, breathable cotton and features original artwork inspired by the way beekeeping rewires your brain and your wardrobe. Three color options available.

It’s bold, intentional, and very much part of the hive.

🛒 Grab Yours on Etsy →

Black mother beekeeper with daughter smiling enjoying beekeeping

Who we are

We’re a small, coastal beekeeping project rooted in coastal Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Gloucester Sea Hive began with a deep respect for pollinators and the slow, deliberate work they do. What started with a fascination with honeybees over fifteen years ago as a response to colony collapse disorder has grown into a commitment: to care for bees in a way that honors their role in our ecosystem and our food supply.

We’re learning, tending, and building something that reflects the rhythms of this place—quietly, season by season.

This is a space for the Sea Bees and the people who care about them. For healthy bees, honey, wax, and pollination. For education, transparency, and the kind of work that doesn’t rush.

Follow us on social

If any other beekeepers have any tips, please drop them in the comments. But if I have pine straw (which I usually don’t— pines don’t grow much around me), I’ll use that. Burlap and denim are my favorite smoker fuel! #bee #honeybee #beekeeper #beekeeping #blackgirl
Part 2: Welp…it’s not *great* news, but it’s gonna be okay. Don’t do what I did and make sure your queen cage screens will not be embedded in the comb when you close your hives. This was a really heartbreaking and humbling experience. Apparently, these colonies were likely doomed even if these queens had survived/been accepted and this whole heartbreak might’ve been for nothing. Hopefully @queenlatifah and her colony will accept the bees from the failed colonies and beef up well for winter. She’s a really good queen. #beekeeper #beekeepingfails #queenbee #blackgirl #combininghives
Part 1: Queen Bee issues. What does a queen be do anyway? She emits pheromones that keep the colony together and she lays all of the fertilized (female/worker) and unfertilized (male/drone) eggs. If you don’t have a queen, colonies will usually make one. Ordinarily this is a good way to requeen a colony, but at this time of year, in my area, where daylight is becoming scarce, temperatures are in the 50°s at night, and a lot of colonies aren’t producing drones or are kicking out the resident ones. Basically, the mating pool is pretty drained. So I had to buy a couple queen. I absolutely LOATHE having to buy bees. But I was desperately trying to save two of my colonies. See if you can catch my extremely huge mistake 🤦🏾‍♀️ #beekeeper #blackgirl #beekeepingfail #honeybee #queenbee
These limited edition metal bee-lover tee (shown here on my very capable fashion model) are going quickly! It says Gloucester Sea Hive on the back in yellow. Sales of this shirt will support @gloucesterseahive and its commitment to sustainability, stewardship, and community. Link in bio or paste & go: https://recycledtides.etsy.com/listing/4349037644
Take a moment with this honey bee grooming on a magnolia leaf. #honeybee #pollinators #beewatch #magnolialeaf #blackbeekeeper #gloucesterma #microdosesofnature
If any other beekeepers have any tips, please drop them in the comments. But if I have pine straw (which I usually don’t— pines don’t grow much around me), I’ll use that. Burlap and denim are my favorite smoker fuel! #bee #hon
Part 2: Welp…it’s not *great* news, but it’s gonna be okay. Don’t do what I did and make sure your queen cage screens will not be embedded in the comb when you close your hives. This was a really heartbreaking and humbling ex
Part 1: Queen Bee issues. What does a queen be do anyway? She emits pheromones that keep the colony together and she lays all of the fertilized (female/worker) and unfertilized (male/drone) eggs. If you don’t have a queen, colonies will usually
These limited edition metal bee-lover tee (shown here on my very capable fashion model) are going quickly! It says Gloucester Sea Hive on the back in yellow. Sales of this shirt will support @gloucesterseahive and its commitment to sustainability, st
Take a moment with this honey bee grooming on a magnolia leaf. #honeybee #pollinators #beewatch #magnolialeaf #blackbeekeeper #gloucesterma #microdosesofnature

STAY IN THE LOOP.

Monthly updates from the hive—what the bees are up to, what we’re learning, and how you can support pollinators where you live.