Westside Bee Boyz, LLC

06/03/2025

Catch us a the Ogden Farms, farmers market 🍯🍯🍯 on Friday, June 27, 1-5pm. Thanks to for making this happen

05/24/2025

Our beloved founder, Thad, is currently in the hospital. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he rests and recovers.

If you’d like to support Thad during this time, you can:
— Donate via CashApp: $westsidebeeboyz
— Hire us for a beekeeping presentation
— Sponsor a hive installation in his honor

Our Resident Queen Bee, (https://instagram.com/denise_thugstable), is available for all inquiries.

50% of all proceeds will go directly to Thad’s recovery.
Thank you for holding our hive family up with love.


eWellThad

05/21/2025

It’s always World Bee Day here. Looking to get deeper into the world of bees this summer? Here’s our Westside Bee Boyz Reading List—a mix of science, storytelling, and serious pollinator love. Perfect for beekeepers, bee lovers, and curious minds alike.

Our Picks:
• The Good Bee – Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum
• The Mind of a Bee – Lars Chittka
• Our Native Bees – Paige Embry
• What a Bee Knows – Stephen Buchmann
• The Dancing Bee – Karl von Frisch

From understanding native bees to decoding the waggle dance, these books deepen our respect for pollinators and inspire the work we do across Chicago. Let us know what you’re reading—or tag us in your bee book stack!

05/20/2025

BTS - Founder Thad J. Smith and his family were recently interviewed by WTTW at their South Side homestead, where two of our Westside Bee Boyz colonies thrive. Feature story coming soon.

05/19/2025

Big thanks to Justin Shiltz for donating two nucs to support our citywide beekeeping work! These bees are ready to go—but we need more hive bodies to house them. Got extra equipment collecting dust? Help us give these colonies a proper home. Donations of hive bodies (deeps + mediums especially) are deeply appreciated!

04/24/2025

Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to our Resident Beekeeper and official Queen Bee, Janelle ()!

This summer, we’re honored to have her lead the Westside Bee Boyz Queen Bee Residency. Janelle’s no stranger to the hives; she’s been with us since 2018 and is now expanding her vision across two buzzing sites:

At Sweet Water, she’s taking charge of Queen rearing, nurturing the next generation of hive leaders while hosting Workshop Wednesdays and holding it down at the Friday Farmers Market for public outreach.

On 103rd Street, she’s managing a thriving hive with the support of interns through One Chicago, curating community programming, and hosting Saturday Markets and art studio time.

Wishing you a year as radiant and purposeful as the work you’re doing, Queen Bee!

02/18/2025

Doing a market at LinkedIn this Thursday! Not sure how it's gonna go but an interesting place to 🐝!

02/18/2025

Hey Honey lovers! This will be the only place you can get me honey until the Farmers Market season.
Looking forward to seeing you!

02/10/2025

If you want some honey, I will be here till spring, so come check me out!

09/03/2024

https://youtu.be/ZkCwwMsKRRg?si=92cZ_FXgtAkxORwg

Another interview with my BEES, add this to the highlight reel! Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
It always nice when people recognize your hard work and effort.ypu.pit into the world.
These moments are so bittersweet, my mother Doris J Smith went to the ancestors one year ago last month. She was usually the one I called first when this stuff happens, but alas I am an orphan now 😢. I will continue to move forward as I'm sure she would wanted me to.

August 31, 2024 - Micah takes the freshest honey she's ever had... straight from the hive, thanks to Thad Smith. Founder of Westside Bee Boyz, LLC. In additi...

08/01/2024

On August 14th of this year, we will celebrate 10 years in the Bee Box. To celebrate the accomplishment we will be vending at the Democratic National Convention at McCormick Place from August 19th-22nd. This is going to be an historic event and we are fortunate enough to be able to stand in a part of the spotlight talking about Bees and Honey! We did not do this alone, and appreciate all the mentoring, volunteers and countless people who have bought my Honey or other products, without you I would not have been able to sustain this journey.
Another announcement, we are now in a 5 year partnership with Chistem and NEIU, teaching Teachers about Beekeeping and sustainable practices. Damn it feels good to be a Beekeeper!