Featured Beekeeper
of the Month
This month our featured beekeeper is Charles Newton. He and wife, Kathy, along with their twins Riley and Dillon are from Bloomfield, Iowa. Their business is “Newton’s Own” and they sell honey, pollen and hive products.
Charles tells me he has been fascinated with bees since he was young. His father got a hive when he was 8 or 9 and Charles got his first hive in 1978. It produced 100 pounds of honey the first year. In the early 80’s he had over 100 colonies, but has 40 to 50 colonies now.
At Newton’s Own they sell royal jelly and propolis. Kathy makes lotions and candles and they also gather bee pollen to sell. The boys help with all aspects of the business. After a long day, Charles says he finds it very relaxing to work with the honeybees and just marvel at how it all works. He always enjoys cutting out swarm cells and watching the queen emerge. Charles told me he never misses a chance to get stung. Charles and Kathy participate in the farmers market and enjoy talking with people. He plans to learn more about apitherapy and educate customers about the products produced in the hive.
Vern Ramsey invited Charles to join the SE Iowa Beekeepers where they talked about queen rearing, apitherapy, swarm removal and help each other solve problems. I think he likes the meals and fellowship. Charles is also a member of IHPA.
Thanks for your story and thanks for coming to the SE Iowa meeting and sharing your knowledge.
Riley and Dillon are sons of Charles and Kathy Newton and help with the family business Newton’s Own.
A very nice sized swarm. Unfortunately it turned out to be the swarm that got away.
Submitted by Ron Wehr
