Our Story

The Musante Farm runs a sustainable virtuous cycle that protects honeybees—the world’s most important crop pollinators. We rescue problematic colonies from homes and businesses across New England and Eastern New York, re home them on our Berkshire County organic farm where they join our other bees in producing top quality local honey. From the strongest, locally adapted colonies we propagate future generations and supply them to the New England beekeeping community. Through mentoring and sustainable beekeeping instruction, we support healthy bees, skilled beekeepers, and a healthier planet.

Our Virtuous Bee Cycle

About The Founder

Amy Musante is the founder and beekeeper at Musante Farm Apiaries and Bee Removal Services. A broadly trained biologist with over 35 years of experience, she specializes in animal behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Amy began her career with the University of Massachusetts Entomology Department in the early 1990s and has worked across academic, government, and private sectors. While conducting research on mammals at the National Museum of Natural History, she received the Smithsonian’s Personal Recognition for Ingenuity, Drive and Excellence (PRIDE) Award.

Education

• B.S. in Zoology and B.A. in Anthropology (Magna cum Laude, Interdisciplinary Honors) — University of Massachusetts

• M.S. in Evolutionary Biology — University of California (behavioral ecology, host–parasite coevolution, avian brood parasitism)

• Certificate in College & University Teaching — University of California

• Master Beekeeping Certificate — Cornell University

• EPIQ (Education about Production and Insemination of Queens) — Penn State University

Experience & Approach

• 35 years as a biologist

• 15 years as an active beekeeper

• 450+ colonies managed over her beekeeping career

• 12 years rescuing feral colonies for superior genetics in her breeding program

• 6 years teaching university courses

• 28 interns mentored

• 6 years providing one-on-one beekeeping consulting and mentoring

• Applies a transdisciplinary, evidence-based approach—observation, experimentation, and data-driven management—to refine sustainable beekeeping practices

Driven by curiosity, guided by data, and fueled by passion, Amy expands Musante Farm Apiary while helping others maintain thriving colonies.

Prior Research Projects

Community Ecology— (Entomology Dept, Univ. of Massachusetts) Long-term field research of the ecological interactions among gypsy moths, small mammal predators, insect pests, parasitoids, and pathogens. 

Population Biology and Community Ecology— (US Forest Service) Field research on the relationships between small mammals and mast crops in northeastern forest communities.

Evolutionary Ecology— (Smithsonian Institution) museum research on environmental factors that drive morphological adaptation and evolution in flying squirrels and other squirrels.

Behavioral Ecology— (Univ. of California) Field research on the ecological drivers of behavioral adaptations and coevolution among avian host-parasites.

Conservation Biology— (Manomet Observatory for Conservation Science) Field studies of breeding biology and natural history of threatened (Cactus Wren) and endangered (California Gnatcatcher) birds to inform habitat protection and recovery efforts.

Population Biology— (Bloom Biological, Consulting) Design and implemented the pilot field study for the Imperial Valley Irrigation District’s Burrowing Owl Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).

Marine Coastal Pelagic Fisheries— (California Department of Fish & Game) Collected market, field, and laboratory data to inform harvest guidelines and quotas for West Coast manage coastal pelagic fish and market squid.