A Morning with Justin Goedde of Oak Hill Honey
In our first journal post, we are excited to introduce you to our dear friend, Justin Goedde, the sole owner and beekeeper behind Oak Hill Honey in Pawtucket, RI. Oak Hill Honey is an expression of Justin’s deep fascination and respect for honeybees and the long tradition of small batch backyard beekeeping. We had the honor to spend a morning with Justin and his dog Cashew, seeing the bees up close, and learning firsthand the beauty of a bee community.
Justin’s apiary consists of 2 beehives in Pawtucket and he also manages several more hives across southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Justin harvests multiple small batches throughout the spring, summer, and fall to capture the unique character of each season’s blooms.
How did you first get started in beekeeping? What were some interesting surprises you learned in the process?
My interest in beekeeping began when I received a small jar of honey from a coworker’s backyard hives. It was a beautiful, light golden color and had a taste and texture unlike any honey I’d ever had before. When she explained her process and the many benefits of raw, local honey, I was immediately hooked. I dove into several books on beekeeping, which opened my eyes to the complexity of honeybees and how a colony functions as a single, sophisticated superorganism. It’s incredible to see how thousands of individual bees coordinate perfectly to keep their hive healthy and productive.
"It’s incredible to see how thousands of individual bees coordinate perfectly to keep their hive healthy and productive."
Yes, it’s so fascinating how each individual bee knows exactly what to do isn't it? What we’ve been curious about is the taste. How does the season or local plants affect the taste of your honey? For example, what’s the difference between the honey from the fall harvest versus the early spring harvest?
One of the most fascinating things about honey is that each harvest is unique. Because honey is a direct product of local flora, its flavor, color, and texture change with the season, location, and even the weather. In my area of Rhode Island, spring honey is usually a light golden color with a mild, floral sweetness, while fall honey tends to be darker amber with a richer, more robust flavor. Each harvest reflects the natural rhythm of the landscape.
"Each harvest reflects the natural rhythm of the landscape."
So we get this question in our store all the time. What’s the difference between raw, local honey and what you might find in the supermarket?
Most local beekeepers sell pure, raw honey that has been minimally processed. From hive to bottle, my honey is filtered only once through a fine mesh sieve to remove larger pieces of wax and debris and is never heated above the hive’s natural temperature. This keeps the beneficial enzymes, yeasts, and nutrients intact.
As a result, raw honey will naturally crystallize over time — which is a sign of quality, not spoilage. In contrast, commercial honey is often heated, pasteurized, and blended from multiple sources (sometimes internationally) to prevent crystallization and achieve a consistent flavor and texture. Unfortunately, this process destroys many of honey’s natural properties and subtle flavors.
Can you tell us beekeeping supports the local environment and ecosystem?
Buying local honey is a simple way to strengthen and promote sustainability in the local agriculture economy, helps maintain healthy pollinator populations, and reduces the environmental impact of imported honey, which often comes from unregulated or poorly monitored sources. It also connects people more closely to their local environment — and some studies suggest that consuming honey produced near where you live may even help with seasonal allergies by exposing you to trace amounts of local pollen.
"One of the easiest ways to help is by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants and reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals in yards and gardens."
The bees give so much to us and it's disheartening to see their population are on the decline. What are some of the biggest challenges bees face today, and how do you help protect them?
It’s important to recognize the difference between honeybees and native bee species — both are essential, but in different ways. Honeybees are crucial for pollinating crops like fruits, nuts, and vegetables, while native bees play an equally vital role in maintaining biodiversity in wild ecosystems.
Bee populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and lack of diverse forage. One of the easiest ways to help is by planting native, pollinator-friendly plants and reducing or eliminating the use of chemicals in yards and gardens. Replacing monoculture lawns with pollinator gardens provides diverse forage and shelter for bees and other beneficial insects throughout the year.
Thank you for your time today Justin, you and Cashew have been a amazing hosts. We love learning about your beekeeping process and we now have an even deeper appreciation for the bees. How should customers reach out if they have questions or want to learn more about your business?
We’re still building our online presence, but you can always reach me at oakhillhoneyri@gmail.com or on Instagram at @oakhill_honey_ri.
I love connecting with people who are curious about bees, local honey, or just want to learn more about how to support pollinators in their own backyards.
