Marblehead resident Peter Barnet decided to embark on an unexpected adventure: beekeeping. What began as a pandemic pastime quickly grew into a passion, leading him this fall to enter his honey in the Beekeeping category at the Topsfield Fair, one of the oldest agricultural fairs in the country.
“I’ve been interested in bees for a long time,” Barnet said. “A friend in town offered to set up a few people with hives during COVID, and I took advantage of that. So, in the spring of 2020, I started my first hive.”
Like many new beekeepers, Barnet soon learned that managing a healthy hive requires both patience and skill.
“It’s a huge learning curve,” he explained. “Keeping a hive going these days, with all the natural and invasive predators and pesticides, takes real knowledge. You need to be able to recognize what’s happening inside the hive.”
A friend mentored Barnet through his first season, and soon he joined the Essex County Beekeepers Association, where he found a strong community of support.
“You find great people there who are always willing to help,” he said.
Barnet now has four hives in his backyard, though this season was a challenging one.
“I had three active hives this year and captured a swarm from the neighborhood,” he said. “But by the end of the season, I actually had no bees left. A few swarmed away, and one hive was lost to what’s called a robbing event.”
Despite the loss, he maintains a sense of optimism.
“In a way, I’m relieved not to have to overwinter any bees this year,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ll start up again in the spring.”
His dedication and attention to detail paid off at the Topsfield Fair, where his honey earned an Honorable Mention this year — after placing fourth last year in both the light and amber honey categories.
“This year, I only had light honey, which I actually prefer,” Barnet said. “I also entered the cream honey category and placed fourth there as well.”
Preparing honey for competition, he explained, is both an art and a science.
“You need completely clean bottles and caps, and (have) honey with no foam or debris,” Barnet said. “But the most important factor is water content. Perfect honey is around 16% water. If it’s above 18.6%, it’ll ferment and spoil. Below that, it’s a shelf-stable product that can last forever.”
Beyond the ribbons and recognition, Barnet hopes his work inspires greater community awareness about pollinators.
“People can really help bees by being conscious of the lawn care products they use,” he said. “Try to go pesticide-free, and plant pollinator gardens. There are so many flowers bees love, and it makes a real difference.”
Barnet’s journey from beginner to fair competitor has been as sweet as the honey he produces.
“I’ve just enjoyed being part of the community,” he said. “There’s something special about watching a hive thrive, seeing how much work those bees put in, and knowing you’re helping in a small way.”
