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                     There's very few photos of my "prior" life.  This one is at Camp Joyce in
                     Afghanistan.  In the background you can see the mountains of Pakistan. 


Do you know the story of how I became a beekeeper?

It's a story I don't share much, because talking about my past makes me a wee bit uncomfortable. When your first job out of college is one in which everything you do is shrouded in secrecy, all correspondence is marked with an intricate system of classifications, and you are assigned a "pseudo" (short for pseudonym, or a fake name) on your first week on the job, you quickly adapt to not talking much about work. 

In 2002 I landed an interview with the Central Intelligence Agency. The opportunity came after a career fair and in the form of a weirdly vague email from "the U.S. Government." The interview was void of any expected bravado or fanfare: it was held in a low-rate hotel off the highway in Durham, North Carolina. I was finishing my senior year at Duke University, and just barely starting to acclimate to the culture shock I experienced  from landing at the prestigious school all the way from the tiny west Texas town of Smyer, population 400, where I was born and bred. Three months later I was notified I was in, and what transpired was almost 8 months of personality testing, psych interviews, drug tests, background checks, and interviews with every roommate, neighbors, family, and friends of the last 21 years.

I worked in what was called the Near East Division, under what is now known as the National Clandestine Service. It was 2003, and the Iraq and Afghan Wars were in full swing.  

Over the next 10 years I worked on issues related to Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan from a 360° viewpoint. Support, intelligence gathering, policy, audits, and investigations: I touched a little of all of it.  Sometime around 2013, I saw a beekeeping class on Groupon. (Remember that platform!?) My first thought was: "Weird. That's a thing?" I signed up with a woman named Gina that I had met at a local coffee shop. (Who would later come back full circle as a beloved Two Hives employee!) 

I came home that day OBSESSED with bees.  I couldn't stop quoting bee facts to anyone that would listen. I started two bee hives with a friend (Two Hives name origin story!) and within months wanted to pursue this little hobby a bit further.  Less than a year later I quit my job. I was mortified to share my plans with my D.C. coworkers. Interestingly enough, my D.C. people were more supportive than my Austin crew.  Turns out a lot of govies really just wanna buy an orchard and start a cidery.  

I spent the next spring season working for a commercial beekeeper out of Navasota, Texas.  I got the job through a cold email, with a cover letter that cited my Olympic lifting PRs and touting my experience with the military to demonstrate I'm one tough cookie. Four months later I returned to Austin, unsure of what the hell to do next. My "honey company" woudn't have a real honey harvest for another year.  

I lived off of savings and worked part time as a food tour guide to make ends meet. I knew I needed another way to bring Two Hives revenue, but didn't know the answer. One day I was reading a book called The $100 Startup, and the book had a chapter entitled "Get Paid Twice."  It stuck with me. How could I get paid twice to produce a tangible jar of honey that I could only sell once?

I was struck by how in awe all my friends were anytime I let them visit my hives with me.  Would people PAY for this experience? I cold-called outdoor Meetup groups in Austin, pitching them my new experience. It was a hit, and "hive tours" were born, my first real product.  

A photo from one of my very first hive tours.  Originally I did these on 6 hives a neighbor let me start in his backyard.  We started each tour with an introduction with beers on my front porch.

A lot of hustle, a dash of risk-taking, and a whole lot of grit and resiliency has found us where we are today: at the Honey Ranch.  Back in 2015 I was manually scheduling couples for hive tours at a farm East of Austin. We had no bathroom access, no classroom, and not much shade to provide relief after a tour. I hauled my Rubbermaid bins of suits and a cooler of cold drinks out to the hives each weekend. 

Tours today are downright luxurious compared to what they were 8 years ago. You can book your tour online at any hour of the day, we have a gorgeous classroom to start and end your tour, you can end your visit with a honey flight in the honey bar, pick up some nice souvenirs in our gift shop, and we have...bathrooms! 

I share this because it's easy to forget where we started, forget how far we've come.  Or if you are new to us, perhaps you don't know about the bold COVID pivot buying the Honey Ranch was to begin with.  You may not have heard the stories of the literal blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into building Two Hives into what it is today. 

The fact is, Two Hives was one big risky move, that honestly, wasn't very smart in hindsight. I knew nothing about starting a business, had no business plan, and knew not much more about beekeeping I didn't grow up in an entrepreneurial family: I am a first generation college graduate. I leapt with no safety net. 

But I leapt. It's not the right move for everyone, but I think leaping--in even small ways--is good for the soul. It's what keeps life exciting. Trying new things, getting out of our comfort zone spices up the monotony of life. Leaps don't have to be big: learn something new. Try a hobby that you may not be good at.  Do something that scares you a bit.  

If you need some ideas on getting out of your comfort zone and are even a little bee-curious, I'm offering a little help below.  Keep scrolling to find discounts for hive tours at the Honey Ranch or our online beekeeping classes.  I'm always excited to see anyone ready to leap into bees! 

I'm on the verge of another big leap (more on that very soon...) so I need inspiration from you. What leaps, big and small, have you made lately?! What leaps do you have planned this year? I can't wait to hear how you are getting out of your comfort zone.  

For the bees,
Tara Dawn

Need a little Adventure?
Book a hive tour!

Looking for a little weekend adventure? Join us for a hive tour! Suit up and be a beekeeper for a day.  Try to find a queen bee, eat honey fresh from the hive, and get the best selfies for your holiday cards! Use SPRING23 to save 10%. March tours are almost sold out, so plan your weekend at the Honey Ranch now. 

Book your tour!
Got the beekeeping itch?
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Ready to jump in as a beekeeper? Check out my online beekeeping course.  These 4 beautiful videos and e-book are great for the bee-curious and those interested in getting started as a beekeeper. Use code BEECOOL to save 20%.
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