About Inspired Beeing
After 15 years of hibernation, my uncle’s beekeeping net sits ready for action. My Backpack – complete with three months of clothes, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and a mobile modem – weighs in at 30 lbs. My pith helmet is tied to my bag, locked and loaded.
Its June 2011. I am 24, and I just quit my job and purchased a plane ticket to Turkey. My mission: to study honey bees in the country’s wild, remote, and beautiful Northeast. And if I survive? Start a social venture. Yes, this blog is the start of my story; but it’s also an exploration into the story behind bees, and how they have struck the hearts of beekeepers, activists, foodies, entrepreneurs, authors, celebrities, and fictional characters world-wide. This blog is an attempt to compile these accounts of discovery, trial, and inspiration.
Watching bees for an afternoon is the equivalent of opening a trap door to the world’s ecosystem. Bees are thought-provoking, insightful, mysterious, and absolutely 100% inspiring. They are also a keystone to sustainable rural enterprise, our global food supply, our culture, and our history.
Instead of buzzing around for all to observe, bees are perhaps most easily found frozen under newspaper headlines proclaiming “BEES ARE DISAPPEARING.” The list of usual suspects causing the exodus include: Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), Varroa mites, monoculture, systemic pesticides, and cell phone waves.
With all of this publicity, I am intrigued by our social reaction: the people who are newly drawn to the field, the beekeepers who are rising to the challenge, and the organic honey emerging to the surface. Humans on a larger scale than ever before are becoming moved by bees, inspired to take action.
I started Inspired Beeing to capture the thought-provoking aspects of bees and their relationship with human beings. From the banks of the Nile to the backyard of Sherlock Holmes, throughout history our interactions with bees have led to deep insights, new ideas, and creative thinking. If we are truly to save the bees, these uplifting stories need more exposure.
This blog also documents my personal journey launching a social business marketing organic honey produced by women in Turkey. At the moment, I am learning everything there is about the field, and funneling the highlights to you. From the nomadic villages of Turkey’s northeast to the heights of the rocky mountains (my home turf), these stories are about the lessons that we learn from bees and the humans they inspire.
For wit, creativity, adventure, and hopefully a bit of inspiration, check back in at http://www.inspiredbeeing.com. I also invite you to write inspiredbeeing (at) gmail.com to share your own story. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for stopping by the site.
Balyolu: The Honey Road
Cat as a National Geographic Young Explorer
Claire Bangser Makes Things
One Sticky Hive
Hey Cat, I just saw your newest blogpost from facebook. Great to hear you are back in Turkey! I’ve always wanted to visit Kars. This looks like an awesome venture. Good luck, and I’ll definitely be following. -Arthur
Thanks Arthur! Its great to hear from you, and thanks for visiting the site. Where are you now?
So good to see another blog dedicated to bees. And moreover you are really active as a beekeeper and have moved around big part of the globe to study them. I love these little creatures too (and especially the honey they produce) and spend hours watching and photographing them. Occasionally I volunteer with some local beekeeper to learn what they are all about when you try to make money with bees.
Just found your website and love it! I think what you are doing is incredible. Looking forward to following you on your journey.
Thank you Melissa!
I have just discovered your blog. I think it is so fascinating what you are doing. I am a huge fan of bees and I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Thanks for your visit and encouragement Eva!
Great work and great blog!
I first learned about bee keeping in the Turkish Black Sea region while visiting the UNESCO biosphere reserve in Camili (on the Turkish-Georgian border). A fantastic place to visit if you haven’t been yet!
http://www.unesco.org/mabdb/br/brdir/directory/biores.asp?mode=all&Code=TUR+01
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=court-cancels-powerplant-construction-on-basin-2011-02-08
MARGO! I LOVE THE MACAHEL! I have big plans to move there when I retire one day. I am about 20 posts behind right now, but I just came back from 4 very packed days in Camili (or Macahel). I will give two spoilers – I got to artificially inseminate bees in a laboratory and assist in a Karakovan hive harvest. The Macahel is the most beautiful place I have been in the world I think. Thanks for visiting. When did you travel to the Macahel? Will you be coming back any time soon?
Super creative, original blog. The layout is very creative too. I wonder if you’ve ever read “Secret Life of Bees.” You must have. It’s one of my favorite books.
What an interesting topic and passion. I had no idea cell phone waves, among other things, were contributing to the dying off of bees. We enjoy the honey around here, for sure.
Great adventure. I look forward to following your travels and discoveries thru bees. I know some bee keepers and they are a very perceptive bunch.
I’ll be following. I’m a new beekeeper. I love to photograph bees working the flowers and entering the hive. Some photos and vids can bee seen here…
http://solarbeez.com/2012/11/12/bee-beard-log-hive-shows-much-activity-in-november/
My main focus is providing a good place for the bees with habitat in the area. If I get honey, that’ll be an added plus, but I’m not into maximum honey production as sometimes I think that adds to the problem.
I’ll be looking forward to following your adventures in Turkey and beyond.