The story didn’t begin in the blooming prairie fields as one might imagine, but rather amidst the curated vignettes of Chicago gallery - Douglas Rosin Decorative Arts. The gallery founders, Barbara Rosin and Gene Douglas, who spent years surrounded by rare objects and design, developed a longing for something more elemental.

So, in 2018, we traded the city for the rolling, sunlit expanse of 20 acres on the southern edge of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine, bringing along the knowledge and style of decorative arts and landscape design, as well as experience in urban beekeeping, setting the stage for Black Barn Apiary.

We set about restoring the series of prairies designed with a focus on planting and nurturing honeybees and all pollinators. It became a living artform, always changing, always moving.

After researching the different types of beehives available, I settled upon
A-Z beehives, imported from Slovenia, which can be accessed in cold, wind, rain
or snow, as they are built into the side of the apiary. With these handcrafted hives being somewhat of a novelty in the area, there was a definite learning curve, requiring mentoring and guidance from expert beekeepers in Slovenia.

Our flavors are crafted in small batches, blending sustainably sourced fruits, spices, and herbs into exceptional flavor selections, pushing the boundaries of honey.