Be Mused by Susan M. Brackney

A Conversation with Susan M. Brackney, Author of 'Plan Bee'

Q: How did you become interested in beekeeping?

A: My great-grandfather was a beekeeper — and so were many people during his time. You know, if you wanted eggs, you had chickens. If you wanted honey, you kept bees. I've always been interested in self-sufficiency. I love finding out how to do the things that we have gotten so far away from doing for ourselves. I make my own soap, and I like to grow a lot of my own food.

I knew that having honey bees around would give my garden a good boost. Also, I knew honey bees were running out of decent places to live, so I wanted to give them a hand — and having some fresh honey now and then couldn't hurt either!

Q: You got your start as a beekeeper in an amazing way. Tell us the story of this fortuitous turn of events.

A: One of my dearest friends ran across everything I would need to get started in beekeeping at a garage sale. He knew I'd always wanted to be a beekeeper, but that I couldn't afford to buy the hives, smoker, and bee suits new. I really think it was meant to be, because the man who was selling all of his beekeeping gear had just married a woman who was allergic to bees. So he gave up beekeeping for love. Isn't that amazingly sweet? That's how I got my start in beekeeping…and all my friend wanted in return was honey for life.

Q: Why are honey bees so important to existence on this planet? What vital role do they play in the natural order of things?

A: Honey bees are crucial when it comes to our own existence. One bite out of every three or four bites of the food we eat is the direct result of the pollination of bees and other pollinating insects, so, without bees, we might not have as much variety in our diets. Berries and almonds — and lots of other produce — are expensive now, but without bees, they'll cost a whole lot more. In fact, some foods could become fairly scarce.

Q: What are the greatest threats to honey bees today, and what can be done to ensure their survival for generations to come?

A: By now most people have heard about Colony Collapse Disorder, which is wiping out bee colonies in astounding numbers. Scientists are finally closing in on the possible cause, but, really, the condition may well be the result of several problems at once. Bees have always had to deal with natural parasites like mites, assorted diseases, even raids by bears... But people have contributed to the bee's troubles in some ways also.

By transforming previously forested land into subdivision after subdivision, we've made it harder for wild honey bee colonies to find good nesting places. Bees really like to nest in dead, hollow trees. And we've exposed them to harmful agricultural pesticides for decades now. Generally, people have also tended to kill bees right away if they've nested in an inconvenient spot, but, fortunately, that's starting to change.

Learning all you can about honey bees and the important work they do, and passing that on to your kids would go a long way toward promoting the insect's longevity. On a local level, you could get to know any of the resident beekeepers around and regularly buy honey from them. It wouldn't hurt if more people took up beekeeping, so, if you're game, you could always put on the veil!

Q: What is the best way to handle a swarm of honey bees near your home?

A: I am really, really glad you asked about this. A swarm of bees is quite something to see in person. It can be thrilling for some people, but it can be unnerving, too. Truthfully, as long as the bees aren't in the way — like hanging over your front door or something — then you can just leave them alone. They are quite docile when they're in a swarm, and eventually they will leave on their own. It could be in as little as a few hours to a day or so, but, as soon as the bees agree on a new, final destination, off they will go.

But if you have pets or little kids — or if someone nearby is allergic to bees — it's a good idea to get in touch with the closest beekeeper to have the swarm removed. Your county extension office often will have a list of beekeepers in your area. City animal control sometimes does also. But, if you still come up empty, every single state in the U.S. has a state bee inspector. Call that office, and you'll likely come up with a couple of names and numbers to try.

Q: How do bees inspire and inform your creative work?

A: If I were a worker bee, I think it would be easy to become utterly incapacitated at the thought of all of the work ahead. At one time or other, she will clean and polish waxen honeycomb, tend to larval bees, forage for nectar and pollen, help remove the dead and any other debris from the hive, guard against intruders, and so on. And yet, as far as I can tell, she just keeps her head down and keeps on working. I've been trying to emulate her perseverance.

Rather than be overwhelmed by the enormity of whatever creative project I am pursuing, I've learned to see — and work — like that worker bee. Like her, I must start somewhere, and, so, I do. I start small, and, like a bee, I stick with it, even when things aren't going as well as I think they should. Do that, and, by the time you do raise your head, you'll be amazed at — and spurred on by — your progress.

Q: Aside from getting stung, what are some of the risks and challenges involved in keeping bees?

A: Keeping the neighbors and city officials happy is easily number one. It doesn't take much to get shut down as a beekeeper, unfortunately. It's legal in my town, but there are lots of other places where beekeeping is illegal. I make sure to keep my neighbors knee-deep in honey. So far, they all seem pretty happy with the arrangement.

Of course, there's also always the possibility that, despite your best efforts, your hive dies. That's just part of beekeeping though. It happens to each of us at least once.

Q: What are some of the unexpected rewards of getting to know these unique creatures and spending time with them?

A: I am not a very outgoing person, but when friends, acquaintances — even strangers — ask me about bees, I can't shut up. So, at the very least, getting to know the bees has helped me to be less shy. Also, I'm a little more patient than I used to be. When you work with honey bees, your movements have to be very slow — sort of deliberate and gentle at the same time. You definitely can't rush — not without getting stung. My bees have helped me to be a little less high-strung, a little more mellow.

Q: What have you learned from your time among the hives? What are the life lessons that the bees have to teach us today?

A: That even when things in my own life seem chaotic, I can take comfort in that fact that there is order somewhere. Most of the time, there is order in the beehive. There, everyone has her own job and pretty much sticks to it. Things get done. The place looks nice. I like the thought of that.

As for those broader life lessons, honey bees demonstrate that there is value in hard work and even the smallest of efforts can add up over time. But there is something really serious to consider here, too. In a way, honey bees are the new canaries in the coal mine. We have to pay closer attention and take care not to spoil their — and our — only home. After all, if our environment is no longer as healthy for honey bees as it once was, how suitable can it be for us?

Q: What advice or encouragement do you have for beginning beekeepers and budding writers?

A: Well those two paths may seem kind of disparate, but you have to be fearless to do either one very well. After putting themselves "out there," beekeepers and writers are sort of in harm's way, and they both must suffer their own particular stings. In the case of the beekeeper who is stung, he probably had it coming by being clumsy or careless with the bees. Considering that bees die after deploying their stingers, they really don't want to sting in the first place. As for would-be writers, they've got to face the stings of their critics and nay-sayers. And, at least in the "nay-sayers" category, many of those people do their pooh-poohing because they've been unwilling or unable to pursue their own dreams.

What's more, both beekeepers and writers need to have a good plan, stick to the plan, and execute the plan. In other words? A beekeeper must know ahead of time what it is he intends to do when inspecting his hives. He gathers his tools, keeps himself calm, and is not easily distracted from the task at hand — even when a bee sneaks into his veil and starts walking back and forth across his eyebrows. (Yes, that happened to me!) Likewise, the writer needs to know ahead of time just what it is he intends to say. You'd be surprised at how many writers start writing without knowing exactly what they want to convey and to whom they will convey it! To do so is disrespectful to one's readers, if you ask me.

Finally, neither the new beekeeper nor the new writer should be easily discouraged. There will be disappointments. I have lost entire hives, even though I did all I could to keep my bees happy and healthy. And I have carefully crafted story pitches, articles, and even entire manuscripts only to have them summarily rejected. Yes, it's a bummer, but if you don't keep trying you'll never be a successful beekeeper, writer — whatever you want to be. Oh, and when you do achieve a modicum of success, it is as sweet as a good jar of honey. Maybe sweeter. •

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