Floyd hosts 'Learning from the Bees' as it comes to the U.S. for the first time
As it was announced that Floyd County was accepted as a Bee City USA affiliate last month, an international conference was kicking off in Floyd.
As it was announced last month that Floyd County was accepted as a Bee City USA affiliate, an international conference was kicking off in Floyd.
People from all over the world gathered at Floyd EcoVillage for "Learning from the Bees" Sept. 25-27. Hosted by Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary, the gathering included beekeepers, environmental advocates, researchers, and nature enthusiasts from around the world to discuss what bees need to hive healthy, thriving lives.
Georgie Donovan, who works at Spikenard, said the conference encourages participants to consider the needs of bees rather than focusing primarily on honey production or pollination. She said the questions that are posed are, “What would the bee want if she could have her best life? What would it look like if we were serving the bee so that she could be healthy and have great vitality as opposed to 'how can we get the most pollination or honey from her?'”
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She noted that she was most looking forward to learning about the Mayan stingless bees and sharing about practices to avoid chemical treatments in hives.
Environmental activism was celebrated in many forms including an interactive art installation and live music. Luke Wallace, a songwriter and environmentalist from Vancouver, Canada, traveled to Floyd to help launch the conference.
Wallace was invited by Spikenard Director Alex Tuchman, who has been planning for the conference to come to Floyd for more than a year and a half. Wallace, who said Tuchman is an incredible organizer, pollinator, farm manager, ecologist, and more, saw the event as an opportunity “to connect music, art, and environmental advocacy.”
Wallace's first two records served as soundtracks to environmental documentaries addressing proposed tar sands pipelines in his home province. Although he did not initially set out to build a career around environmental activism, those projects brought him into environmental circles.
He believes music can reach people in ways that scientific information alone sometimes cannot. “Art and music has this really unique ability to reach people on a level that, you know, data doesn't,” Wallace said. “Get them to feel.”
The event also highlighted the importance of community partnerships beyond the sanctuary grounds. Adam Morrison, from Two Trees Catering, coordinated food with Allison Milam of the EcoVillage. The duo worked with local growers and producers to create a farm-to-table menu. Milam supplied vegetables while nearby farms helped fill gaps caused by growing challenges and an early frost. Meat came from local Weathertop Farms and Firehouse Farms, and Rising Hill Bakehouse provided breads and baked goods. Morrison celebrated that “it's true local community — farm to fork, working together.”
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Both old and young people gathered, finding opportunities to deepen their connection and broaden their understanding of bees. Porter Alton, a Springhouse student interning at Spikenard, received a scholarship to attend. Alton explained that his family keeps three to four beehives currently which he said has “taught him the importance of calmness, patience, and positive energy. It also means learning to breathe, remain calm, and approach the bees with friendliness.”
Learning from the Bees has been previously held in the Netherlands, Berlin, and the United Kingdom.
Mark J. Harris
Floyd County Farm Bureau
(540) 745-2021
335 E. Oxford St.
Floyd VA 24091
