Meet Our Vendors: Rainy Day Bees

We’re proud of Washington’s small farms, proud of the shoppers who support them, and proud of the work we do to create connections among these groups to help ensure that quality, local foods continue to be available to nourish the whole community. Ever wonder about your favorite farmer or vendor’s backstory? Read on and Meet Your Vendor!

In the midst of so much uncertainty, a bee story sweet as honey 🐝In 8th grade, Seattle Native Peter Nolte’s life changed when he learned you can keep bees in the city. The youngster already had backyard chickens and homework, and so his parents told him maybe another time for that particular project. Peter’s fascination with local insects persisted into adulthood, and when he graduated college Peter returned to his love of bees. Living in a small apartment, Peter convinced a friend in Phinney to let him set up a hive in their yard. Unable to contain his passion and drive, Peter eventually set up another hive on the roof of his place of work at the time, in Fremont.

During this time, Peter and Amy Beth became engaged and married and she too developed a passion for bees. The pair discovered that honey in Phinney tasted completely different than honey in Fremont, and were determined to place more hives in different areas. They eventually started Rainy Day Bees and began selling in the Shoreline Farmers Market. In 2017, Peter Nolte took the plunge, quitting his job to be a full-time beekeeper and sell at markets, including the University District and Lake City Farmers Markets. These days, Rainy Day Bees has hives in five neighborhoods in North Seattle and Shoreline and breeds bees in Monroe and at Jubilee Farm in Carnation.

It is no secret that without bees, there would be no food. Small businesses like Rainy Day Bees provide an essential service to the little insects that make the world go ‘round by creating habitat and protection. You can support Rainy Day Bees and a thriving local ecosystem by ordering from them directly.