Jun 16, 2026
By Shelley Rich
What started as an effort to improve a backyard garden has grown into a thriving local honey business and a passion that continues to bring joy, relaxation and connection for local beekeeper John Waits with Bushel and a Peck Apiary.
John learned about the Sedgwick County Harvest Hub through Steven Foster, owner of SKF Farms, another Harvest Hub member. Today, Bushel and a Peck Apiary is one of only two honey distributors participating in the Hub is located on a corner of the SKF property.
Beekeeping wasn't always part of John's plan. After retiring from a 20-year active-duty career in the Air Force, he found himself with four months of leave and time to explore a new hobby. His first attempt — metal detecting — wasn't exactly a success.
"I failed miserably at metal detecting," John jokes.
As a longtime gardener, he began researching ways to improve pollination and increase production in his garden. That curiosity led him to purchase a bee split from a beekeeper in Wellington.
"The woman who sold me the split spent over three hours teaching me about bees," John recalls. "I wasn't answering my phone, and my wife thought the Craigslist Killer had gotten me." Instead, John had discovered a hobby that would quickly become a passion.
Since becoming a backyard beekeeper in 2022, John has steadily grown his operation while balancing a full-time job. At one point he managed as many as 17 hives but has found 10 hives is a more sustainable number. To keep things manageable, he sold five splits this year to other aspiring beekeepers. His honey is available through Facebook, at the SKF Farm Stand near 103rd Street and Hillside and through word-of-mouth referrals. Last year alone, he sold approximately 400 bottles of honey.
Bushel and a Peck Apiary is truly a family business. The company's name was chosen by John's wife, Kassie, inspired by the song her grandmother used to sing to her as a child. Their daughter, Evalyn, 16, became an invaluable helper during last year's honey harvest when John was recovering from a broken rib. Kora, 12, helps with harvesting and bottling the honey. Meanwhile, their 8-year-old son, Ezekiel, is already eager to join the family business and regularly asks for his own bee suit.
John takes pride in maintaining what he describes as "mellow and friendly" bees. Early each spring, he opens the hives to assess how the colonies survived the winter. Within a few weeks, he begins weekly inspections to ensure the bees have adequate space and don't swarm. Depending on weather conditions, pollination success and nectar flow, honey is typically harvested in July and again in September.
While many people enjoy honey in tea or baked goods, John admits he may use "maybe too much." He stirs it into his black coffee every morning and enjoys experimenting with unexpected pairings, including carnitas tacos.
"The bees are relaxing and therapeutic," John says.
He is continually fascinated by the complexity of the hive, where every bee has a specific role and works together for the success of the colony.
Today, John's bees thrive on the 7.5 acres of SKF Farms, where they help pollinate gardens and coexist alongside the farm animals. Occasionally, a curious baby goat sneaks through the fence surrounding the apiary, adding a little extra excitement to life among the hives.
For John, beekeeping has become much more than a hobby. It's a way to support local agriculture, spend time with family and contribute to a healthier local food system, one bee at a time.