We produce real Texas honey, the real Texas way.
At Lake Granbury Honey, we’re raising honey bees in a responsible and ethical way, harvesting only the finest raw, local wildflower honey.
We will never compromise or devalue our honey by blending from other sources or adding other ingredients. Honey is our passion, and this is our promise.
What we do:
Honey Products
Certified Real Texas Honey™
Sponsor a Hive
INCLUDES
- A personalized bee hive in your chosen colors
- Sponsor or recipient’s name displayed on the hive
- A beautiful package with information about the queen bee and the hive activity
- A seasonal letter outlining the activities of the beekeeper and hive for the change of the season
- 4 bottles of honey (9 oz. each)
Cost to sponsor: $375.00
Ag Exemption Bee Hives
If you own 5-20 acres of rural or residential land in Texas, you may apply for a special "Open Space" land valuation by raising honey bees on your property. This allows you to save substantial amounts on your annual property taxes.
- You Buy the Bees and Hives - Number of hives required will depend on county and size of property.
- Installation Fee
- Monthly Management and Gas Fee
- Honey Splits 50/50 based on crop yield, this averages 10-9oz bottles in the first year.
Teaching & Training
MENTORSHIP
We’ll teach you one-on-one how to manage your own bees and hives.
OPTION 2
Experience a day working in a hive:
- Identify a worker bee, a drone and possibly a queen
- View frames of eggs, brood and capped larvae, and honey frames
- Extract and filter honey
All safety equipment is provided.
OPTION 3
Day in the Life of a Beekeeper:
3 Hour Classroom session covering bee breeds, equipment, history, safety, planting recommendations, Texas agricultural requirements and more.
3 Hour Field Experience- identify workers and drones, view frames of eggs, brood, and honey.
The Plight of the Honeybee
Alongside concerns over Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and pesticide usage, the U.S.A.’s honeybee population has been devastated by a parasitic mite known as the Varroa Mite. It's estimated that the Varroa Mite caused the death of approximately 90% of feral honeybee colonies and 50% of managed colonies in the late 80s and early 90s, and it remains the primary threat to bees today.
This significant decline in bee populations underscores the urgent need for new beekeepers to replenish and bolster honeybee populations. Without honeybees, the loss of many essential crops is inevitable, leading to a substantial decrease in yields and a significant rise in prices for fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
We consider beekeeping a privilege and a passion
Beekeeping and honey production is a renewable and sustainable agricultural business. We are proud to be responsible for:
- Maintaining healthy bee colonies for pollination and honey production
- Collecting hive products like honey, beeswax, and pollen
- Making important decisions regarding treatment and yard management
- Harvesting honey
- Controlling diseases and pests
- Monitoring hive health
- Preparing colonies for seasonal changes
- Contributing to research and development efforts in the field
About our team
Jan Nielsen - Founder
Jan Nielsen developed an interest in honey during her tenure as a Registered Nurse in the US Army, where she worked in a burn unit. Part of the treatment regimen for severely burned patients involved applying a thin coat of honey over skin grafts, which significantly aided in the grafting and healing process.
Jan's journey into beekeeping began 17 years ago when she observed a family friend tending to their bees. Starting with just two hives, Lake Granbury Honey now manages over 100 bee hives across nine properties. She specializes in Texas Wildflower honey, and serves as a mentor for aspiring beekeepers.
Jan lives in Granbury, Texas, with her spouse Dave Holland, and together they cherish their family of four children and 13 grandchildren.
Mandi Cagle - Partner
Mandi has a Bachelors in Horticulture and is currently working on a Master of Science in Wildlife and Natural Resources with research in Propagation and Transplanting Texas Native Wildflowers. Her academic pursuits align with her passion for native wildflowers and cultivating produce varieties. She is in her third season of beekeeping and enjoys volunteering at local elementaries, teaching the next generation about honeybees and flowers. Mandi's overarching goal is to provide her local community with nutritious products while upholding her commitment to environmental stewardship.
Mandi lives in Granbury, Texas, where she balances her roles as a devoted wife and mother of four children.
Lake Granbury Honey Farm Shop
At Lake Granbury Honey, our mission is simple: Real Texas Honey, The Real Texas Way.
But why stop at honey? Our one stop farm shop features local farmers and producers who share our vision - do it the real way. Whether you're stopping in to pick up coffee, plants starts for your garden, seasonal produce, or a gift for that special event- we guarantee our products are free of harsh chemicals, grown and created with love, and sourced within an hours drive of our shop. We are honored to partner with these fellow small businesses and can't wait to share their passion with you.
Flowers
that power Bees & honey
Wildflowers
- Plains Coreopsis and Sulphur
- Cosmos
- Purple Prairie Clover
- Black Eyed Susan
- Cornflower
- Daisy
- Poppy
Other important perennials
- Rudbeckia
- Verbena
- Coreopsis
- Gaillardia
- Sedum
- Geranium
- Echinacea
- Aster
- Hollyhock
- Salvia
- Milkweed
- Lavender
- Agastache
Frequently Asked Questions
Does honey expire?
What are the benefits of honey?
What is the minimum acreage for ag exemption in Texas for bees?
Want to find out more about our Texas honey and beekeeping?
Give us a buzz!
We are certified:
