The Bees Buds
The Beekeeper Behind the Bees
A family, a farm, and a deep love for the natural world. Welcome to The Bees Buds.
Our Story
From Pumpkintown to Your Table
My name is Michael Stevens, and I'm a beekeeper in Pickens County, South Carolina. My bees live on beautiful 40+ acres near Pumpkintown, surrounded by some of the most diverse wildflower forage in the Upstate.
I'm a husband and father to two boys. We love our lives here in the Upstate of South Carolina and taking care of what God has blessed us with — the land, the bees, and each other.
The Bees Buds started simply: I wanted to share the incredible honey my bees were making. Unfiltered, unheated, and straight from the hive to the jar to you. No middlemen, no mystery ingredients — just pure raw honey the way nature intended.
The Bees
A Year in the Life of Our Hives
My bees start foraging in early spring, pulling nectar from Red Maple trees as soon as the weather breaks. Through summer they work the full range of flowering plants across our property and the surrounding countryside.
As fall arrives, Goldenrod takes over — giving our late-season honey its rich, bold character. Every jar reflects the season it was harvested and the land the bees called home.
Why Face-to-Face?
The SC Honey Exemption
South Carolina's honey exemption allows small beekeepers like me to sell raw honey directly to customers without a commercial processing license — but only when sold in person. This law protects small operations like ours and keeps our honey local, fresh, and affordable. It also means every jar you buy comes straight from the person who tended the hives.
Beeswax lip balms are available online and ship nationwide — no exemption required.What Makes Us Different
Small Batch. Real Honey. Real People.
Raw & Unfiltered
Never heated, never over-filtered. Our honey keeps its natural enzymes, pollen, and flavor exactly as the bees made it.
Pickens County Roots
Every drop of honey comes from hives on our 40+ acres near Pumpkintown, SC. You know exactly where it's from.
Family Operated
There's no corporation behind this label — just a beekeeper, his family, and a genuine love for what they do.
Sold Direct
We sell face-to-face at local markets so you can meet the beekeeper, ask questions, and know exactly what you're buying.
Come Find Us at a Market
The best way to experience The Bees Buds is in person. Come say hi, taste the honey, and take a jar home.