SONOMA COUNTY HONEY

Sonoma County Honey: Then and Now

Sonoma County has a long, quiet relationship with honeybees. Long before large-scale agriculture, the region’s rolling hills, river corridors, and wild landscapes created ideal conditions for nectar flows. Native wildflowers, oaks, blackberry thickets, and later orchard crops gave bees a diverse and steady food source.

In the early days, beekeeping here was mostly small-scale and practical. Farmers and homesteaders kept a few hives for pollination and household honey. Areas like Sebastopol and Forestville, shaped by coastal air and river influence, became especially favorable for bees thanks to mild temperatures and extended bloom cycles. The Russian River corridor helped sustain nectar flows well into the dry months.

As agriculture expanded, honey production followed. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Healdsburg, and Cloverdale all played roles as orchards, vineyards, and pasturelands created new forage opportunities. Beekeeping evolved alongside farming — still local, still seasonal, and still deeply tied to the land.

Today, Sonoma County honey tells a more complex story. Development, climate shifts, and changing land use have made beekeeping more challenging, but also more important. Healthy bees now depend on thoughtful hive placement, seasonal movement, and careful management. The reward is honey that truly reflects place — floral, nuanced, and shaped by microclimates that only Sonoma County can offer.

That’s where Russian River Bees & Honey comes in.

We work with local forage, local landowners, and seasonal honey flows to care for bees responsibly and produce small-batch California honey rooted in this region. Our goal is simple: healthy hives, honest honey, and shared knowledge.

We also believe beekeeping doesn’t have to stay hidden or exclusive. Whether you’re curious about keeping a hive as a hobbyist or want to understand how bees fit into Sonoma County’s future, we offer guided education and hands-on learning for those who want to take part. Beekeeping can be sustainable, meaningful, and deeply rewarding when done right.

If you’d like to learn more or explore beekeeping as a hobby, visit:
https://microbeekeeping.app

Sonoma County has always been good bee country. With care, community, and education, it can stay that way.