Meet Karen Palmer | Beekeeper/Bee Removal Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Palmer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my own business so that I wouldn’t have to work for anybody and could be my own boss. I didn’t like having to report to superiors who did not understand my job anyway. I also felt like my earning potential was very limited working for someone else, where in my own business the sky was the limit.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bee Removal is a unique combination of beekeeping and carpentry which services homeowners and commercial properties that have had bee infestations. As a female business owner in a male-dominated profession I have had to overcome prejudices from customers about my extensive knowledge in this field of expertise (surprisingly mostly from other women who believe that only a man can do this). I enjoy breaking boundaries and challenging stereotypes when I arrive on the job and people see me on the ladders and doing all the carpentry work.

My experience includes 25+ years of home remodeling and repair as my first business was rehabbing run-down properties where I learned to do sheetrock repairs, replacing rotting exterior boards and siding, flooring, etc. to convert into rental units,

After many years of beekeeping I decided to combine my construction/carpentry skills with my beekeeping knowledge to provide bee removal services. Bee removal requires the careful deconstruction and reconstruction of a structure to access and remove a bee’s nest as well as sealing it up to prevent future infestations. We provide bee removal services throughout the state of Georgia (we are not limited to a specific area). We then bring these rescued bees back to our bee farm in Washington County and give them a new home.

As the department of Agriculture became aware of this new field in pest control, they sought to regulate the field to protect consumers from “botched jobs”. They created a program to certify professionals in this field and I was selected to help the team in this process to create proper training standards.

As my business has grown I have also started selling nucleus colonies to new beekeepers as well as providing training to new and advanced beekeepers. We breed our queens from what we consider to be the best colonies and bring in new genetics for diversity and to reinforce favorable traits.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I visit my sister in Kennesaw, GA we enjoy hiking at Red Top Mountain and Kennesaw Mountain and paddleboarding on the beautiful lakes there as well. Allatoona Creek is a beautiful area I enjoy visiting too.

Within the Atlanta area I enjoy the Botanical Gardens, craft festivals and live music. Stone Mountain is also a pretty place to visit

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I first decided I wanted to provide bee removal services, I sought out and apprenticed under the beekeeping expert Harold Ward. He has been my main mentor. He recognized my carpentry skills and trained me in the art of bee removals. We went out on hundreds of jobs together, each one was different posing unique challenges. He taught me how to answer and diagnose bee problems as well as suggestions for marketing and getting my name out there in this unique field of work.

Also want to shout out to my husband, Jason Palmer, for assisting in bee removals. He attends all jobs with me as my partner. He is always there to fetch the tools I need on-demand, answer questions from the customers as to the process as well as providing interesting facts about bees. He is my PR man.

Also would like to give a shoutout to the Bad Backyard Beekeepers who don’t manage their colonies for swarming behavior creating lots of work for me.

Website: savannahbeeremoval.com; honeybeesplease.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honey_please_007

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyplease007

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeypleasebees9189

Image Credits
The Logo was created by Nancy Miller, which I have the full copyrights to use as my own