About Us
A Beekeeping Family
Phil’s Honey, a family business and a St. Norbert Market mainstay for 30+ years.
Phil and his family have been recognized by the Red River Exhibition Agriculture Association as Farm Family of the Year (2014) for their contribution to sustainable agriculture and rural living.
Phil’s Honey is based near Starbuck, Manitoba. Phil has about 1200 hives producing about 250 barrels of honey annually. The very best honey is reserved for local customers like you!
Family Tradition for 100+ years!
Phil is a lifelong beekeeper who first learned from his grandmother the thrill of understanding a hive filled with buzzing bees. Since then, Phil has worked hard to understand both big and small questions: in beekeeping and in life.
Beekeeping tends to be a solitary and contemplative business, so Phil has lots of time to think when working his bees. As a result Phil leads a double life; in one life he is a burly beekeeper, in his other life he is an armchair philosopher.
Armchair Philosopher
Phil has a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Manitoba. His main philosophical interests are in the areas of Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Science. His Master’s thesis explored the idea that the honeybee dance language should be considered a genuine language, not just instinctual behaviour. Phil has been teaching various basic courses in philosophy since 1993. Phil, and his wife, Vona, have two children, Timmy and Jayna. Phil has been president of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association, Chair of Manitoba Cooperative Honey Producers and is a longtime board member of the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market.