I am hoping that it continues to grow and that we can find a solution to the varroa mite. That depends on a few factors like farming and habitat and pesticides. Where do you see the beekeeping industry in the next 10? 20 years? I know this sounds crazy– but I don’t like when they get too close to my ears. But I do try to avoid getting stung like the plague though, but not like running away screaming. It’s on a therapeutic level for me to watch them work. That and I can also watch bees for hours. Tameeka teaching children about bees next to an observation hive. Beekeepers come in all walks of life and I think that is pretty dope. I now realize that I have a lot more in common with people than I realized. How has being a beekeeper impacted your worldview? Doing my part managing bees to help pollinate crops makes me feel like I am doing something to help my community and the world. Knowing that these tiny little creatures impact agriculture globally is pretty wild. What do you think is important about bees and the work you do to care for them? I was like oh yeah!! I felt some sort of validation. The first time I was able to spot a queen that wasn’t marked. What is your most memorable moment as a beekeeper? What’s your favorite part about beekeeping? I think learning to install a package, which at first is intimidating and exciting at the same time! A package is a box of roughly 3 lbs of bees (about 10k!) It also holds a queen in a cage and has sugar syrup so they have something to eat while in transit. What was your first experience with bees? They gave so much information and were able to answer. After going to my first meeting at my local bee club, I was hooked. I had heard there was something going on with the (honey)bees. Tameeka: After I started getting heavier into growing my own veggies I was noticing I wasn’t seeing a lot of bees around pollinating. Tameeka holding a frame of bees and honeyīest Bees: Let’s get into it! What first intrigued you about bees? Continue reading below to learn more about installing bee packages, the therapeutic nature of bees, and the future of beekeeping. Tameeka is extremely passionate about beekeeping and fresh “AF” products such as local NJ honey, homemade soaps, lip balms. For Black History Month, we’re excited to feature and interview Tameeka Chang also known as The Black Beekeeper founder of Holland Homestead. According to the LAND ACCESS FOR BEGINNING AND DISADVANTAGED FARMERS report, 98% of Black farmers were dispossessed through discriminatory practices at the USDA and various federal farm programs resulting in a 90% loss of Black-owned farmland in the US since 1910.īlack beekeepers from Detroit, Atlanta, North Carolina, and all over the US are changing the narrative and reclaiming their agricultural roots for the next generation of beekeepers.
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