James learned the initial skills of beekeeping from his mother, who kept hives in their backyard throughout his childhood. His continued interest in beekeeping lead him to study with the Virginia State Beekeepers Association in addition to becoming a member of the Beekeepers Guild of Southeast Virginia and the Nansemond Beekeepers Association.

For several years, James has kept bees on his family farm and helped friends and neighbors with their hives. In 2016, James began offering beekeeping experiences so he could share his apiary skills and knowledge with others. As interest grew, he began offering beehive installation and management services for residences and small businesses.

In addition to his passion for beekeeping, James is a certified Master Gardener and can be found spending time gardening and maintaining a pollinator-friendly property. He also enjoys hatching and raising a variety of birds (hence the “birds” in Blackwater Birds and Bees), hunting, trapping, and spending time with his young family.