Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Chapman.
Hi Tara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in the tiny West Texas town of Smyer, Texas, population of less than 500. I had barely left Texas when I was accepted into Duke University and became a first-generation college graduate. My world grew exponentially larger when I accepted my first job offer with the Central Intelligence Agency. I spent the next ten years working for the federal government, filling up my new passport with stamps from countries such as Afghanistan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan.
On a fateful day in Austin Texas, I took a beekeeping class with a friend, Gina, now a member of the Two Hives team. Inspired and in love with the bees, I quit my government job to work for a beekeeper in East Texas, rearing queen bees for four months. What started a solopreneur running hive tours for Meetup groups on two neighborhood hives has evolved into a socially conscious business that aims to educate our community, support other local businesses, and of course, offer you the best damn honey Texas bees can make.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would be shocked to learn that any small business owner or entrepreneur has had a ‘smooth’ road! When I started Two Hive, I had to not only learn how to start and run a business but had to learn the trade of beekeeping as well. Beekeeping is a very nuanced form of animal husbandry and one that very few actually have mastered. Though beekeeping is popular with many hobbyists, it takes many many hours in a hive with an experienced beekeeper, and trying out a lot of A/B testing to really become an adept beekeeper. However, the energy and time it took for me to get my beekeeping chops have made me a very good educator, and teaching and providing educational experiences is now a huge part of our business.
We’ve been impressed with Two Hives Honey, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First and foremost, we are beekeepers. One of our core values is Bees First, and our first priority is to always put the health of our honey bees above all else. We are honey producers, and unusual in that we are actually the beekeepers that care for the bees that produce the honey. Most larger operations are honey packers, in that they buy honey from beekeepers all over the country (or world) and package it under their own label. Every jar with our label came from a hive within 20 miles of downtown Austin.
All of our honey is raw honey, meaning it is never heated or filtered. This ensures all the benefits of nature’s gold stays intact. We harvest all our honey in small batches by neighborhood, which produces a rainbow of colors and flavors that reflect the different nectar sources from the flowers grown in that neighborhood. We specialize in agri-tourism, providing unique and educational experiences in the form of hive tours, honey tastings, and more. And we educate budding beekeepers, providing classes and hands-on experience and beekeeping equipment.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is going to the Hockley County Library with my Nana. I was always an avid reader, and the day always meant new unlimited possibilities for books and stories.
Pricing:
- Our honey jars range from $8-$18.
- Our hive tours start at $40 for kids and $45 for adults
- Our beekeeping classes start at $40
Contact Info:
- Email: info@twohiveshoney.com
- Website: www.twohiveshoney.com
- Instagram: @twohives
- Facebook: @twohives
Image Credits
First Photo of me in a flannel shirt by Brian Flannery. Next two photos of me in overalls are Max Kelly Product Photo is Michelle DiRaimo
