29/11/2025
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Even after doing this full-time for years, it’s still a kick in the guts every time I get a message like this. I don’t know of any other profession where people are expected to work for nothing.
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I carry a vehicle loaded with thousands of dollars’ worth of specialised equipment. I pay for insurance. I maintain a fleet of gear. I drive hundreds of kilometres every week responding to calls. I also cover all the usual expenses that every small business faces. The workload, costs and biosecurity requirements have only increased year on year.
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Some of us deal with extremely spicy bees, some are just learning to deal with Varroa. You are never sure of the genetics or the disease status of the bees you rescue. Yet some people still believe beekeepers should be grateful for “free bees” and happy to solve their problem at no cost.
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And then comes the kicker: “Ok, no worries, I’m guessing the bees will be destroyed.”A classic guilt trip. And almost always from someone willing to pay a pest controller to kill the bees, but not a beekeeper to ethically relocate them.
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Here’s the truth: there is no such thing as free bees. Not anymore, and honestly, not ever.
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Beekeepers and beekeeping clubs undermine themselves by continuing to do this work for free. It devalues the industry, reinforces unrealistic expectations, and hurts every beekeeper trying to run a lawful, sustainable business.
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If you value skilled work, safety, and responsible biosecurity, please value the people doing it.
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Beekeepers deserve to be paid for their labour, just like everyone else.
