Peter Moore Lives the Hive Life
The Corcoran agent-turned-beekeeper shares what’s buzzing in Montauk (and explains why it’s not always just about the honey).
What’s a typical day in the life of Peter Moore, the real estate agent beekeeper?
In the morning, I’ll grab a cup of coffee and watch the foragers take off in search of pollen and nectar. After that, I’m zipping around town, meeting clients, touring properties, and catching up with neighbors. In the evening, I’ll check the hives again to see the bees returning home. It’s mesmerizing to see the steady rhythm of their work and the way they’ll perform an intricate “waggle dance” to guide others to good food sources.
Real estate keeps me on the move, and the bees keep me grounded.
Tell us about your beginnings on “The End.” We heard you started as a summer resident. When did Plan B(ee) become your Plan A?
I spent many years working on Wall Street, commuting into the city from Huntington. While our two sons were growing up, Montauk became our summer escape — we rented here for a month or more almost every year. We eventually bought two parcels of land with the idea that if we wanted a place where our sons and, one day, their families could gather, there was no better spot than Montauk. I began working in real estate in 2003, and by 2008, we had built our home and made Montauk our permanent residence.
How much honey do you make these days? Can your clients expect jars as closing gifts?
As a first-year beekeeper, my main priority right now is helping my bees establish strong colonies. Conventional wisdom says you usually don’t harvest much surplus honey in year one, since the bees need most of it to survive winter. That being said, my hives now have four “supers,” which translates to about 100 pounds of honey per hive — I may be able to take 15 or 20 from each and leave the balance for the girls. I say girls because they’re now 99% of the residents, having kicked out all the boys that weren’t successful mates. If I’m able to make a fall harvest, every drop will be shared with family, friends, and clients.
Have you introduced any clients into the beekeeping lifestyle, or gotten a lead over sharing the passion?
Not yet, but I do share my beekeeping journey with just about everyone I work with. Talking about my bees always seems to spark curiosity and leave people with a different perception of me than they had before, leading to deeper conversations and stronger relationships. Many clients have asked to come out and visit the hives.
For newbies (newbees?), what’s some advice to take the sting out of getting started?
I highly recommend that anyone starting out consider taking a course, whether online or in person, to build your knowledge and confidence. When I decided to become a beekeeper, I felt a true responsibility to do right by these amazing little creatures. That led me to enroll in eCornell’s Beekeeping Essentials online certificate program, which gave me a strong foundation on virtually every aspect of the charge. Joining a local beekeeping club is also invaluable as it connects you with a supportive community. The mentorship of a master beekeeper, if possible, can provide hands-on guidance you simply can’t get from books or videos.
