When Cameron Redford came to Nevada County as an apprentice to a local beekeeper, he knew that his future and passion was in sustainable and environmentally conscious agriculture. From his first meeting with the hives, he realized what all the buzz was about.
After several years of mastering the craft and as his mentor was retiring, he gathered his support and resources around him to take the next step. Through a farm succession program, a successful crowd-funding campaign, and widespread community support, he was able to start Black Sierra Honey. The future is bright, and we're excited for you to be a part of it.
Join us as Cameron Redford shares his personal story, the Black Sierra Honey, Co. and Why Black Hives Matter.
Beekeeping for me is the answer to my life’s calling — to work in harmony with the rhythms of nature while supporting the physical and spiritual wellbeing of my family and communities. The Black Hives Matter Project was born out of an opportunity to purchase the apiary (bee farm) where I work in Nevada City, California — bringing a loved and long-standing honey business under Black ownership in one of the least diverse counties in California, while providing food, medicine, employment and educational opportunities to my community.
It has been a dream come true for my family to step into this role — but it’s not just about us. The history of African Americans and beekeeping is long and deep, and has been one of the victims of the systematic erasure of the contributions of Black farmers from the records of history. I believe that there is immense power in the reconnection of this African diasporic insect and the African diasporic peoples in the Americas. I’m grateful for the opportunity to reclaim this relationship and share it with all of my communities.
It has been a dream come true for my family to step into this role — but it’s not just about us. The history of African Americans and beekeeping is long and deep, and has been one of the victims of the systematic erasure of the contributions of Black farmers from the records of history. I believe that there is immense power in the reconnection of this African diasporic insect and the African diasporic peoples in the Americas. I’m grateful for the opportunity to reclaim this relationship and share it with all of my communities.
Cameron Redford
Black Sierra Honey, Co.
Black Sierra Honey, Co.
Why Black Hives Matter