A Tale of Two Projects: Beekeeping as Both Sensory and Therapeutic
Project 1: A Sensory Approach to Beekeeping. Taking our basic five senses, what do we get out of beekeeping? How do honey bee senses compare to ours? How much of their influence on our senses motivate us to be beekeepers?
Project 2: Beekeeping As A Therapeutic Approach to Mental Health Issues. Whether it is addiction, depression, PTSD, or other issues, the right approach to beekeeping can be noticeably therapeutic for a large number of diagnosable issues. I will talk about how to build a therapeutic beekeeping program and some of the key things to remember if attempting one.
Zip Krummel always thought he would become an entomologist while growing up (social insects like ants and bees), but the Vietnam War totally changed his direction. Thirty years later he retired from the Marine Corps – and totally failed at retirement. After 34 years in public education as a Teacher, Counselor, and School Psychologist, then Dr. Krummel tried retirement again – and failed miserably. He is now in his 25th year as a Professor of Psychology at Columbia Gorge Community College and thinks he might try retirement again in maybe three years – or might fail at it again. It was nine years ago he found that his interest in social insects re-awakened, so he bought a swarm of bees and a TopBar hive to give it a try. With the help and education he received from the Oregon Master Beekeeper Program and all of the wonderful beekeepers willing to share anecdotes and ideas, he now maintains six hives, each one a different type – no desire to retire from beekeeping yet. Yes, that means he is approximately 107 years old!