The Southern Twist

Cedar Hill Honey is a small beekeeping operation with eleven Varroa Sensitive Hygiene Italian honeybee hives. Gardner and Lisa Richey started this beekeeping operation in 2020, with a goal to double the number of hives they had each year until they reached 100.

As a small and beginning operation, the Richeys currently market their honey by word of mouth to family, friends and others in their local community. Once they reach their goal of having 100 hives, however, they plan to expand by selling their products in retail shops and online.

Planning for the Future

The Richeys are goal-oriented and plan with the future of their operation in mind. The couple aims to expand their business to include a pecan operation and recently began that process by planting 162 pecan trees in early spring. They anticipate harvesting their first crop in the fall of 2028 and will install an irrigation system which will enable the trees to start producing once they are 10 years old.

The Richeys currently grow seven different nut varieties, including Kanza, Lakota, McMillan, Syrup Mill, Gafford, Amling and Excel. They hope to add a few more varieties before spring 2024.

Thanks to financing provided by Southern AgCredit, the Richeys are developing an expansive operation with a bright future ahead of them.