The Valley View Bee Yard
Tending honeybees at Valley View Village — pollinating the Hill Country, harvesting pure local honey, and reminding us just how beautifully connected God created us all to be.
Why an Apiary?
The Ark Apiary is one more way Ark of Highland Lakes lives out our mission to unite hands, heal hearts, and transform communities.
Honeybees are our quiet, behind-the-scenes neighbors. They pollinate the wildflowers, gardens, and orchards across the Hill Country, care for the land that feeds us, and fill us with awe at how connected God made the world to be. The bees at our Valley View Bee Yard also produce pure, local honey that supports the Ark’s ministries and the families we serve.
Did you know it takes about 90,000 miles of flying and roughly 2 million flower visits to make a single pound of honey? When you taste honey, remember just how connected you are to the world around you — and give thanks for all that creation does to give us life.
ARK Apiary at a Glance
- Honeybee colonies kept and cared for at Valley View Village
- Pure, local honey that supports Ark ministries and the families we serve
- Hands-on bee yard workdays and learning for volunteers of all experience levels
- Seasonal honey harvest gatherings that bring the community together
- Pollination that strengthens the ARK Garden and the wider Hill Country ecosystem
From the Bee Yard
Take a few minutes with beekeeper Harold Vanicek for a look inside the Valley View Bee Yard.
How the Apiary Works
Honey at its core is sun-powered… just like you and me and all things on this planet. We can trace the grace of life back to our sun — and people of faith might say we are Son-powered too.
TEND
Our beekeeper and volunteers care for the colonies through every season — adding space as colonies grow from small five-frame nucs into thriving 14- and 22-frame hives, watching over the queen (who lays around 2,000 eggs a day in spring!), and keeping each colony healthy and strong. By early June, a single colony can grow to roughly 50,000 bees.
HARVEST
As the spring nectar flow winds down in late June and early July, the bees finish turning nectar into honey. Volunteers gather to extract, bottle, and label the harvest — usually over the course of one busy morning or afternoon. It takes many hands working side by side.
SHARE
The honey, and the story of the bee yard, are shared with our community. The bees remind us that small acts, repeated faithfully and done together, add up to something that blesses everyone — which is exactly the heart of the Ark’s mission.
Caring for One Another
Bee yards are places where resources are shared with those in need, so that all might live vibrant and abundant lives.
When a colony struggles — say, after losing its queen — stronger colonies share frames of comb and resources to help it recover, giving it a boost of life right when it needs it most. That spirit of neighbors caring for neighbors is at the very heart of The Ark of the Highland Lakes.
The Power of Working Together
Since arriving at Valley View, our bees have produced around 400 pounds of honey. Take in what that represents:
- Over 800 million flower visits since mid-April
- The lifetime work of roughly 360,000 worker bees
- An estimated 109–181 million bee-miles flown — the equivalent of circling the earth more than 4,000 times
These tiny neighbors care for us in countless ways — helping plants, birds, and other creatures thrive — and they fill us with wonder at the impact each of us can make, especially when we work together. We believe God works in a million little ways to transform our world and the whole community of creation.
Who the Apiary Serves
The Bee Yard blesses the whole Highland Lakes community.
- The ARK Garden and local growers, through pollination
- Families and ministries supported by the Ark, through pure local honey
- Volunteers of all ages who find purpose, learning, and connection in the bee yard
- The wider Hill Country ecosystem — wildflowers, orchards, and pollinator habitat
Ways to Serve in the Bee Yard
There is a place for you in the Ark Apiary, whether you are a curious first-timer or an experienced beekeeper.
- Join a bee yard workday to help inspect, maintain, and care for the hives
- Lend a hand at the honey harvest — extracting, bottling, and labeling
- Donate supplies (hive boxes, frames, jars, tools) or give a monetary gift
- Share your skills as a beekeeping mentor or helper
If you would like to help, fill out our volunteer interest form and our team will follow up with upcoming bee yard workdays. Protective gear and safety guidance are provided for hands-on hive work.
Location and Schedule
The Ark Apiary is located at Valley View Village, 582 FM 1855, Marble Falls — the Ark’s 211-acre property, convenient to families and volunteers across the Highland Lakes.
In Texas, the honey harvest comes at the end of the spring nectar flow, in late June and early July. Be on the lookout for a summer honey harvest event — it takes a good number of helping hands to extract, bottle, and label everything in a single morning or afternoon.
Upcoming Ark Apiary Event Dates:
Help the Bee Yard Thrive
The ARK Garden is a one acre plot with a big purpose. Every hour volunteered, every bed planted, and every harvest shared helps a family take one more step toward stability and hope.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I need beekeeping experience to help?
No. We welcome first-timers. Our beekeeper provides guidance, and protective gear is available for hands-on hive work. Watch our – Welcome to the Hive Video!
Is it safe? Will I get stung?
Beekeeping always carries a small chance of a sting, but with proper gear and calm handling it is uncommon. If you have a known bee-sting allergy, let us know and we will find a great role for you that does not involve opening the hives.
What should I wear or bring?
Wear light-colored clothing, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. We provide veils and suits for hive work. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for harvest days.
Can families and groups serve together?
Yes. Families, youth groups, and church or community groups are welcome. Some tasks are perfect for all ages; minors should be supervised by a parent, guardian, or group leader at all times. Find a time to serve together.
When is the honey harvest?
Typically late June through early July, at the end of the nectar flow. Specific dates are announced in early summer — watch the events calendar and email list.
What happens to the honey?
Our pure, local honey supports Ark ministries and the community. Watch for seasonal opportunities to learn more and get involved.
Join Our Mission
Whether you need support or want to provide it, Transformational Living welcomes you. Through the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we believe every family can break generational cycles of poverty and build a future filled with hope, stability, and purpose.
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