About Me

I bought my first beekeeping book when I was 17 years old. I read it cover to cover, fascinated by the complexity of the hive, but life got in the way and the idea sat on a shelf for years. It wasn't until recently that I took it down, looking for something that offered more than just a hobby.

My apiary sits on 5 acres just outside of Berlin, Md. It is here that I found a remedy for the anxiety and depression I had carried since my early twenties. Beekeeping forces you to slow down; when the lid comes off, the noise of the world fades, and the only thing that matters is the colony in front of you.

I won’t pretend it has been easy. My first year was, frankly, a train wreck. But failure is the best teacher. Through the guidance of the Lower Eastern Shore Beekeepers Association (LESBA)—a group that has been immense in my journey and where I now serve as a member of the board—I learned to listen to the bees and the difference of having bees and being a beekeeper.

I am now a proud Apprentice Beekeeper in the University of Florida (UF/IFAS) Master Beekeeper Program, currently working toward my next level of certification.

Today, Pineshadow Apiary is small by design. With one thriving colony and plans for intentional expansion in 2026, my focus is on education and observation, not production. Whether you are a fellow student of nature or a neighbor looking to plant a pollinator garden, I invite you to learn along with me as we steward this land together.

                                                                                                                Matt