Local beekeeper keeps process pure and simple

After years of beekeeping in his spare time, Cy-Fair resident Jake Lavine found a way to turn his hobby into a way to make a living.

Lavine, formerly an accountant, has been beekeeping for the past six years but officially launched his business, No Bee Left Behind, at the start of 2018.

The business involves both the removal of bees—mainly from residential properties—and the harvesting of honey, which Lavine sells on the weekends.

In the beginning, Lavine said he performed bee removals for free, resettling the bees to a host of five beehives that he maintains in Cy-Fair. After building his hives from the captured bees, Lavine said he slowed down on removals.

“We’ve gotten better over the years as more customers have demanded better service,” Lavine said.

Although Lavine said he still performs one to two removals a week, he said the main focus is now on beekeeping. Today, he maintains an additional 30 hives on a local farmer’s land in Pattison, Texas, he said.

Lavine said he spends up to six hours or more every day maintaining the beehives, including cleaning them, checking on progress, removing sick bees and harvesting honey.

At his honey stand, Lavine said he sells both beehives and honey he bottles himself. He said he uses the business Facebook page to provide updates on where and when honey will be sold.