Female Beekeeper Spotlight: Lauren Donaldson of Just Me and The Bees
Beekeeper. Storyteller. Community builder. Champion for stronger, healthier hives.
Sometimes you find beekeeping, and sometimes the bees find you. For Lauren Donaldson of Just Me and The Bees, it started with a swarm under her house. Instead of removing them, she chose something different…she chose to learn.
“I didn't want to hurt them, so I called a local beekeeper to rescue them. I was so fascinated that I asked to keep them and if he could mentor me. And BOOM...I never looked back.”
What began as curiosity in 2016 has grown into a thriving business built on one clear focus: supporting the bees first.
A Different Kind of Beekeeper.
While many beekeepers focus on honey production, Lauren’s work goes deeper. She prioritizes genetics, hive health, and long-term sustainability because stronger colonies don’t happen by accident, they’re built over time.
After purchasing her first nuc nearly a decade ago, Lauren immersed herself fully in the craft. What started as one hive naturally expanded into a business that now includes:
Selling nucs
Mentoring new beekeepers
Speaking at local bee clubs
And leading her growing Host a Hive program
It wasn’t forced. “It became a business on its own. It was a natural development.”
The Storyteller of the Hive
Lauren doesn’t just keep bees, she brings people into their world.
“I like to say I’m a storyteller.”
Through her work and social platforms, she shares the real, unfiltered side of beekeeping. The challenges, the learning curves, the moments that don’t always make it into highlight reels.
And that honesty is exactly what draws people in.
Building A Community Through Bees
Her Host a Hive program is where that storytelling becomes something tangible. It allows people to support pollinators without becoming beekeepers themselves:
Clients provide the land
Lauren manages the hives
She shares updates, photos, and progress along the way
Even the queens are named, often after influential women.
It’s not just beekeeping. It’s connection, education, and impact all in one.
Life in the Field
Most days, Lauren is balancing it all.
A full-time job, a growing business, and time in the apiary whenever she can get it.
Her “Bee-Mobile,” a bright orange car packed with tools, supplies, and the occasional hitchhiking bee, has become part of the routine.
“The hardest part is having to keep a full-time job when all I want to do is hang out with the bees.”
And yet, she shows up anyway.
Earning Her Place
Like many women in beekeeping, Lauren had to find her voice.
“The first few years were frustrating, but I value diversity. That diversity means more ideas and perspectives. And in beekeeping, we need all the help we can get from the community.”
Rather than force her way into spaces that didn’t reflect that, she stepped back, focused on her work, and built something of her own.
Today, she’s not only running a business, she’s helping shape the future of the industry as Secretary of the South Carolina Beekeepers Association.
Why the Right Suit Matters
For years, Lauren worked in suits that didn’t fit.
“I see pictures of myself and I am drowning in the gear.”
Too big. Too bulky. Too restrictive…until she tried something designed differently.
“It actually fits me. I don’t look like I’ve been swallowed by a marshmallow.”
That difference shows up in real ways:
More comfort in the heat
Better movement in the field
More confidence overall
So much so that she wore her Jeometry Beewear™ suit during a recent TV interview where people immediately took notice.
More Than a Business
At its core, Lauren’s work is about advocacy. For the bees, for the environment, and for the people who want to be part of both.
Through education, storytelling, and hands-on work, she’s making beekeeping more accessible and more human.
Support Lauren & Follow Her Journey
Lauren is continuing to grow her Host a Hive program and expand her impact throughout the Lowcountry.
If you’ve ever wanted to support the bees in a meaningful way, this is your opportunity: https://linktr.ee/just_me_and_the_bees
Lauren’s recent interviews:
The Future of Beekeeping is Female
Our Female Beekeeper Spotlight series is an ongoing monthly feature honoring women shaping the future of beekeeping. Educators, professionals, hobbyists, and visionaries alike.
Because the future of beekeeping isn’t just buzzing.
She’s leading it. 💛
