Meet Our Keepers
We are passionate local beekeepers located on the beautiful beaches of Carpinteria, dedicated to crafting products that are beneficial for both you and the environment.
Our bees are at the very core of our mission. We take pride in carefully rescuing, relocating, and rehabilitating bees, ensuring they thrive in safe, healthy environments. Whether you're just starting your beekeeping journey or you're a seasoned pro, we offer nucs (starter bee colonies) and queen bees to help you succeed. We truly believe that small-scale backyard beekeeping is essential in reversing bee population decline caused by challenges like varroa mites, pesticides, and drought. Each year, we joyfully mentor 30-50 new beekeepers, sharing the joy and importance of bee stewardship. Yet, the bees continually give us far more in return than we could ever provide them.
Visit our cozy and welcoming shop, bakery, and café in Carpinteria, CA. Our very own Barnaby, who spent his childhood in Paris and now photographs top chefs around the globe, pours his passion into our bakery. Alongside our talented baking team, he crafts fresh sourdough loaves, buttery croissants, decadent pain au chocolats, artisanal sourdough pizzas, and much more each day.
Pat and his daughter Sara lead our dedicated beekeeping team, nurturing our bees and sharing their knowledge with locals who want to keep hives healthy and productive.
There's always something buzzing at Santa Barbara Hives—from new product launches and vibrant community events to engaging tastings and friendly educational workshops.
Some Interesting facts that set us apart:
Our locally produced Avocado Honey was featured by Noma—voted the world's best restaurant five times—at exclusive pop-up dinners in Los Angeles, elevating their exquisite desserts. Our bee pollen also enhanced Noma's ceviche, a prestigious honor we cherish deeply.
Our treasured sourdough starter comes directly from Hart Bageri in Copenhagen, part of the esteemed Noma family. A visit to Hart is an absolute must if you're ever in Copenhagen!
Our popular Hot Honey, deliciously infused with jalapeños and chilies, makes everything from pizzas and cheese platters to ice cream unforgettable. First introduced at Earth Day, it quickly sold out but is now back by popular demand, packaged sustainably in recyclable squeeze bottles made from recycled materials.
We are one of the few shops where you can order a Cappuccino and a Queen. Our coffee is organic. Only 5% of the coffee in the world is organic and it is one of the most heavily sprayed crops.
We'd love to welcome you personally to our Carpinteria shop or explore our offerings conveniently online. Visit us Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 am to 7 pm (we take Mondays off to rest and recharge!).
Come say hello at our Carpinteria Shop, Café & Bakery: