Northville Beekeeper Embraces His Hobby's Occupational Hazards to Provide Honey To Locals

Dave Zurek is well aware of the potential dangers that go along with his honey-producing hobby.

When he got into beekeeping, Zurek understood the pitfalls, knowing, realizing there would be times he would be stung while continually overseeing a collection of 100 hives.

In addition to the bees, the hives often can become heavy, weighing up to 80 pounds when they're ready for honey to be removed.

Despite that, though, Zurek wouldn't trade his hobby for anything.

"It's fun working with bees," he said. "It gives me something to do outdoors and people are always very curious about what we do and so it's very enjoyable."

Each year, his bees produce a couple of tons of honey, which keeps Zurek busy constantly monitoring his collection of hives, making sure there is enough room for bees to flourish and produce honey.

But the Northville man's fascination with bees has allowed him to sell the bounty at the Plymouth Farmers Market for the past six years. Each Saturday, Zurek can be found selling locally produced honey, which, in addition to its sweet taste has medicinal value, as well.

In addition to his honey sales, Zurek — who runs Honey Bear Farms in Northville with his wife, Linda — offers bee-removal services for area residents.

Most of Zurek's honey comes from hives he maintains at his home as well as at surrounding farms in Plymouth, Ypsilanti and Pinckney. In addition to his own honey, his stand offers buckwheat and orange blossom varieties that he gets from Florida.

The Plymouth Farmers Market operates between May and October and runs on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Gathering in downtown Plymouth.