Netta Caligari :: Bee Steward
Bees have been around for an estimated 130 million years, but they may be some of the most unassuming creatures on Earth. They make honey to much acclaim, of course. They are the champion pollinators of our ecosystem. And they help scientists monitor environmental health and pollution levels.
That’s quite a hefty resume as is. But spending time with bee steward Netta Caligari opened my eyes to the multitude of other gifts honeybees have to offer. Netta calls it “the magic that is a honeybee hive.” Over two days, I watched Netta move between her home studio and the hives in her backyard, talking about bees with the kind of enthusiasm that makes you forget you're standing amidst thousands of them.
Like the bees, Netta is a wealth of knowledge. She patiently walked me through various hive products, encouraging me to taste, touch, smell, observe, and listen. I sampled the sticky resin propolis, a super-concentrated natural source of antioxidants. And learned that people have long used honeycomb to aid digestion and oral health. “Royal jelly may help balance hormones,” Netta explained as she handed me a small spoonful of the gel-like substance to try. And the literal buzzing of bees? It’s referred to as api-sound, which Netta said “acts like white or pink noise to settle the nervous system and encourage relaxation.”
The use of hive products is nothing new. History tells us the Egyptians used honey and propolis in preservation and ritual practices. Hippocrates wrote about the medicinal uses of honey. And Traditional Chinese Medicine has long incorporated royal jelly for its supportive characteristics. Across time and geography, people have looked to the beehive for guidance.
Compared with these age-old practices, Netta’s own relationship with the hive is relatively new. She began looking for natural remedies in 2018 after a life-changing surgery. Studying everything she could get her hands on, she eventually discovered hive products. Within a few weeks of trying them, she was feeling better, her skin cleared, and her digestion drastically improved. Intrigued, she began to wonder what else were bees capable of. Netta started experimenting with more hive-based treatments, learning, and making visits to friends’ apiaries. She became utterly fascinated by these tiny winged insects and their homes, realizing hives are some of the world’s most powerful natural apothecaries. By 2023 Netta had officially become a beekeeper.
A few years after establishing her own backyard apiary, Netta’s honeybee education went in a slightly unexpected direction. During a time of high stress and burnout at work, she decided to try bee venom therapy, a practice that involves intentional stinging. While the idea may sound shocking and controversial, it has been studied for decades by medical professionals for its potential benefits in treating joint pain and immune conditions. For Netta, the procedure provided immediate relief and deepened her profound gratitude for the bees. That gratitude permeates every aspect of her current practices.
Inspired by her personal experiences, in 2026 Netta became a certified apitherapy coach and established her company, Apiarian Home. She now guides clients through customized therapies using products crafted by honeybees. She also creates small-batch, bee-inspired products, including a collection of beeswax-infused home fragrances. Whether conducting an apitherapy session in person or selling her hand-made products, Netta views all her offerings as a gesture of reciprocity to the bees. She no longer harvests honey from her hives. (She purchases her hive products from organic, certified providers???) And she only interferes with her bees’ natural behaviors when assessing colony health or safety. Her mission transcends traditional beekeeping. “The bees have given me so much,” she explained. “I not only want to reconnect people to the natural world and the pollinators that sustain it. But to do so as responsibly as possible.”
If you have a bee-related question, are curious about apitherapy, or simply want to add some delightful scents to your space, Netta is your person. After our two days together, I left with a profound appreciation for these small, remarkable creatures and the dedication of this particular caretaker. Suffice it to say, my energy was buzzing.
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