The Greeks considered honey “food of the gods.” The ancient Minoans of Crete engaged in sacred hive rituals on behalf of their mother goddess. In Hinduism, the Veddas refer to their primary deities, Vishnu, Krishnu and Indra, as the “nectar-born ones.”
If bees are sacred, then beekeepers Richard Pounds and his family at Blackstone Honey Bee Farms in Broad Run are alchemists, transmuting the natural world through pollination and offering us the golden, delicious superfood we called honey.
Richard “Rick” Pounds, 71, has been around bees all his life. He grew up on a farm in Culpeper. Later, while working for his uncle in construction – and even after he started his own construction business, while living in Nokesville – he often came across bees people considered nuisances.
But while many people are afraid of bees, Pounds was fascinated by them.
After retiring, Rick moved to a rural property in Broad Run where the previous owner planted 1,050 yards of natural flora and indigenous wildflowers to protect against erosion. A friend who operated a 3,000-colony apiary, or bee yard, offered him some colonies. He accepted.
“Honey bees can travel five to six miles in a day looking for flowers,” Rick said. “Mine have to go only 100 yards.”
Rick started beekeeping, producing honey and beeswax candles. In 2023, he launched Blackstone Honey Bee Farms from his apiary on John Marshall Highway, selling honey on-site, at local markets and mom-and-pop shops.
Thankfully, Rick did not have to go it alone. His son Austin, 29, is his second-in-command. While his other sons Richie, 47, and Hunter McCarten, 20, and his stepson, Gary Guerrero, work there a few times a week as well.
Austin’s close friends, Andrew Jenkins and Seth Rollins, work on weekends. “It’s a pleasure working with my sons and the other boys,” said Pounds. “It’s all about family.”
Austin realizes the importance of their work. “[Without bees] you wouldn’t have flowers or plants, and not a lot of the growth and vegetation at all in the world,” he said. “I also take the bee pollen for my allergies, so that’s pretty cool as well.”
Rick’s wife, Angela Salazar, who assists with paperwork and sells at markets, doesn’t mind bees in her backyard. “I’m not afraid of them. If you ignore them, they don’t bother you.”
The only family member who doesn’t like bees, Rick said, is his daughter, Valerie. “She wants nothing to do with them.”
Like the Pounds, bees form a hardworking family unit. The queen lays 1,500 to 2,000 eggs a day. Younger females are caretakers; older females forage for nectar, pollen and water. The males exist to mate with the queen.
“Their job is really living for the queen, getting the honey for the queen,” Austin said.
In bee yards, colonies are kept in artificial hives, large wooden boxes containing screens and frames. The bees turn nectar into honey. Honey falls into honeycomb frames and the bees cap them with beeswax.
Rick and company cut the wax and honey from the frames. They heat raw honey, only slightly, so as not to kill the useful enzymes.
Austin recommends using local honey to treat allergies. Since the bees source local pollen, it's a homeopathic remedy. One can sweeten tea, coffee or yogurt with honey or go “right to the source” and eat a pinch of pollen.
Blackstone sells its raw and natural honey, also offers flavors like Cinnamon Honey and Wildflower Honey. Whipped Cinnamon Honey can be used as a topper or spread. “That’s very popular,” Rick said.
But the farm’s Hot Honey – infused with habanero peppers – is the best seller. It has a spicy kick, Rick said. “People love it on pizza.”
Blackstone also produces an assortment of natural candles.
Beeswax candles burn clean and clear the air. As its negative ions rise, allergens like pet danger and dust fall. People also prefer beeswax candles for their natural fragrance and warm glow and because they are long-lasting.
Selling the goods is part of the fun, and Blackstone participates in nine weekly markets in Prince William, surrounding counties and beyond. “Farmers markets are fun; you meet people and get to grow your business,” Rick said.
Salazar loves hearing her customers share the positive experiences they’ve had with their products. “There’s a real sense of community at the markets, seeing people every week. Plus, they have all these products that are farm-to-table.”
Mitch Berliner, owner of Central Farm Markets, which opened a new location at Virginia Gateway, first met Rick at his Bethesda, Md., market. “Rick is an outstanding vendor, person and is a huge fan of getting the Gainesville Market up and running,” Berliner said.
Because pollination increases agricultural growth and quality, Rick receives multiple requests from farmers who want to rent his colonies. However, he graciously declines, knowing that chemicals – even from neighboring farms – could contaminate his colonies.
Blackstone honey bees are very healthy, as certified by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Rick wants to keep it that way.
However, he does sell hive kits and helps people set up their own colonies. He will even come to ethically remove honey bee swarms.
Today, Blackstone Honey Bee Farms manages 42 colonies between the Broad Run beeyard and a secondary location in Fauquier County, and Rick aims to increase that number to 75.
“I will continue to grow the company for the boys. Austin is ready right now to step in and take charge,” said Rick. “That makes me very proud.”
Austin, who takes great pride in helping people and the environment, is happy to oblige. “When I first started, it was just to help [my dad] out, but today I genuinely enjoy what I do.”
More information about Blackstone Honey Bee Farms can be found at blackstonehoneybeefarms.com.
Stacy Shaw is an award-winning journalist. She is the editor of Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine and publisher/owner of the local news site BristowBeat.com.
Health benefits of honey
Honey soothes throats and calms coughs; combats allergies; is rich in antioxidants; supports heart health, improves cholesterol levels and reduces blood pressure; offers better blood sugar management than sugar; and aids in digestion, nourishing “good” bacteria in your gut. While you should never give honey to infants under 1 years old, it makes a good homeopathic medicine for children.
Check out local features by Haymarket/Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine.
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