It all began around 1970 in Yugoslavia, where my father Moe and his brother, Uncle Dobro, discovered a fascination for bees that would keep them inseparable for life. However, war changed our destiny. In 1994, my family had to leave our home and cross the ocean to start from zero in the United States. When we arrived in Florida, even though we had lost almost everything, we kept our essence alive. I grew up always having a hive behind our house; the bees were the thread that connected us to our land and our history. But life put us to the test again: following a health struggle, my father stepped away from beekeeping and decided to give his bees away to a friend, leaving an immense silence in our garden.
Many years later, in 2020, nature sent us a vibrant sign: a swarm decided to settle into the wall of our garage. It was a reminder that bees belonged to the family, no matter where in the world we were. Although I had no prior experience handling them, I had the most precious guide by my side. Following my father’s wise advice, we captured that swarm together. That moment became one of the most sacred chapters of my life, a father passing down his legacy and a son reclaiming a family treasure. Seeing my passion, he decided to take me to buy two additional hives from a beekeeper in Tampa, reigniting a spark that is now a fire of purpose. After my first honey harvest from the hives, my father and I decided to name our brand Seminole Bee Farms.
My father inspired the spark, but the reality of Seminole Bee Farms was built by the four hands that work this land every single day. Together, we decided to leave our professional careers behind to fully surrender to this calling. It hasn’t been easy; it has meant countless hours of back-breaking work under the Florida sun and sacrifices that only a couple building a dream together can truly understand.
Today, our brand is the living result of perseverance, love, and union. Every drop of our honey carries my father’s lessons, the strength of our Serbian roots, and the effort of two people who believe that the love for nature is the most universal language there is.
What started with just two hives and a leap of faith has blossomed into a reality beyond our wildest dreams. Today, Seminole Bee Farms manages over 150 colonies, many of them rescued and given a second chance through our live relocation services. We’ve grown from a family dream into a thriving local honey store and a hub for the community.
Our commitment to excellence never stops; we are currently in our third year of the Master Beekeeper Program at the University of Florida, constantly refining our craft to provide the best for our bees and our customers. We now work hand-in-hand with fellow local beekeepers and share our passion through educational classes. We’ve built a legacy of growth and conservation, and with so much more on the horizon, we know the best is yet to come.
