How It All Started
When our youngest was born, he had severe allergies, and we thought a little local honey could help. It really began with a love of fresh seasonal food and a book called "How to Grow a Little Fruit Tree" by Ann Ralph.
After planting a few trees on a steep hill, we realized they would benefit from pollinators. Learning a little bit at a time, we grew from 1 hive and a few trees to adding early, mid and late-season varieties of most types of fruit trees.
One fun fact: We got bees and chickens the same weekend! Dad always hoped to try having chickens, but after mom learned about a store that would let you buy chicks and sell them back after helping them grow to about 12 weeks old, the stakes were low. When she said she was potentially interested, Dad wanted to move on it immediately before any chance for a change of heart!
Coincidentally, when Dad first learned about bees, the season to start was only 2 weeks away... and the nucleus happened to be ready that same weekend! Spring 2024 was a particularly busy time :)
Now we have cherries, apricots, peaches, persimmons, avocados, blueberries, guava, pears, apples, berries, grapes, figs, citrus and some unusual fruits like jostaberries and Dad's childhood favorite Cherimoya. The goal of this project is to help the boys foster a love for working with their hands, putting roots into their community and developing appreciation for the world around them.
Meet the Family
The O-Boys, Minnie, and Dan, along with their loyal dog Oreo, have created something special on their Oakland farm. With 10 happy chickens, 5 thriving beehives, and 50+ diverse fruit trees, every day is an adventure in sustainable living.
Now the boys love their "Fluffies" - which are our two silkie chickens, and our bees are surprisingly sweet. Our children are hands-on in every aspect - from gathering eggs and harvesting honey to helping bake fresh goods and tend to our fruit trees.
Our First Business Adventure
Our first year of beekeeping had a surprisingly good harvest. Outside of gifting to friends and family, our first entrepreneurial customer we hoped to partner with was our local gas station. When we approached them with a business proposal to display our jars and split the profits 50/50... their first question was "how much honey do you have?" - but they just wanted it for themselves!
This is when we knew this would be a fun family adventure! Every afternoon we collect eggs and help improve something on the farm - feeding leftovers to the chickens, weeding, or taking care of the plants. The kids have learned everything from bee communication through waggle dances to understanding why biodiversity helps our orchard thrive.
5 Beehives
Producing pure, raw honey while supporting local pollination and teaching us about these amazing insects
10 Happy Chickens
Including our beloved "Fluffy" silkies, providing fresh, nutritious eggs daily while teaching responsibility and animal care
50+ Fruit Trees
A diverse orchard including unusual varieties like jostaberries and Cherimoya, providing seasonal abundance year-round