FROM CITY GIRL TO QUEEN BEE
A SWEET JOURNEY OF FAITH, FAMILY, & COMMUNITY
HOW ONE WOMAN’S UNEXPECTED LEAP INTO BEEKEEPING BLOSSOMED INTO A THRIVING LOCAL BUSINESS THAT’S HELPING ELLIS COUNTY – AND IT’S HONEYBEES – FLOURISH.
STORY & PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DINA ROLEN
A Garden, a Hive, & a Leap of Faith
If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be managing beehives across Ellis County, Texas, I would have laughed and called you crazy. I was a city girl, far more comfortable with concrete than the countryside. However, when I married a man with a green thumb, I adopted his love for gardening— and soon enough, he convinced me that we needed a beehive “because it would be good for the garden.” That’s where it all began.
A Family Affair in Bee Rescue
When friends and neighbors discovered that we were beekeepers, the phone started ringing with requests to remove honeybee colonies from homes and trees. Many didn’t want to exterminate the bees—they just wanted them safely relocated. With honeybee populations declining, we couldn’t bear to see them destroyed either. So began our family’s adventure in live bee removals. For the first four years, we specialized in live cutouts and relocations, turning what started as a hobby into a local family business. All my boys suited up, learned the art of beekeeping, and helped in the bee yard—whether they liked it or not.
Growing with Purpose
As our apiaries expanded, our mission evolved from rescuing bees to sustaining them. We focused on raising strong, healthy hives, mentoring new beekeepers, and producing authentic local honey. We made an early decision to stay true to our roots and serve our community by remaining stationary beekeepers—no migratory hives, no large-scale operations. Just local bees, local flowers, and local honey.
Bees That Benefit Everyone
To expand our impact, we developed a hive-lease program that helps property owners achieve agricultural valuation while supporting pollinator health. For an annual fee, we establish and maintain a bee yard on their property; in return, they receive both ag benefits and a taste of the honey their land helped create. Our urban beekeeping initiative also helps commercial properties boost sustainability goals—earning ESG credits and contributing to LEED certifications all while adding beauty and biodiversity to their green spaces. When honeybees thrive across the country, everyone benefits.
A Calling to Care
Now that the kids are grown and gone, I see clearly how beekeeping filled a space in my life that needed tending. I’m convinced God brought the honeybees into my path to keep that nurturing spirit alive. When you realize that one in three bites of our food depends on pollinators, the work of caring for honeybees becomes more than a hobby—it becomes a calling.
From Our Hives to Your Table
You can find us each Saturday morning at the Downtown Waxahachie Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or year-round at Ann’s Health Food Market and The Doves Nest in downtown Waxahachie.
“KIND WORDS ARE LIKE HONEY, SWEET TO THE SOUL.” Proverbs 16:24
Every jar of our honey tells the story of community, care, and the incredible little creatures that make it all possible.
For more sweet updates, follow along @ROLENSHONEYBEES
