Fernie & Elk Valley Culture Guide Fernie Cultural Guide FALL 2018 | Page 12

FEATURE BUSINESS
Elk River Apiaries
Deborah Davidson’s journey into
apiculture began in 1995 when she
responded to an ad looking for a
beekeeper while studying in Vernon,
BC. Her interest piqued, she stayed up
until 5am reading library books on bee-
keeping, and eventually followed the job
to Fort St John. Later, she travelled to
Tauranga, New Zealand and worked for
a large honey producer where she also
learned about bee breeding.
In 2008, having returned to her
hometown of Fernie and following a
stint working at the local coal mine,
Deborah was looking for a more natural
lifestyle with her husband Doug as they
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started their new family. Keen to revive
her passion for bees, she began her
own beekeeping business with just 4
hives. Now, thanks to friends and family
who are happy to share their land with
the bees, the business is thriving with
a collection of around 100 colourful
beehives dotted throughout the
Elk Valley.
Managing bee colonies in our variable
climate is no easy feat. The winters here
can be very long, and as bees rely on
the food they store during the summer
months, they will perish when these
stores are depleted. While the business
can produce around 5,000lb of honey