Knowledge Share Description
In this knowledge share, we look to the remarkable intelligence of nature by studying how rewilded honey bees survive and thrive without human intervention. This exploration will delve into the fascinating history of how honey bees arrived in the Americas and how the industrial practices of modern beekeeping have become unsustainable—both for the bees and for the ecosystems they support.
Alysia will share her experience with small-scale beekeeping practices at Backland NY, focusing on biomimicry and natural beekeeping principles. Key methods include: (1) Swarm-baiting, (2) DIY top-bar hives, (3) Freeform honeycomb, (4) Minimal inspections, (5) Treatment-free hives, (6) Chemical-free lands, (7) Widely-spaced bee yard, (8) Stationary bee yards.
By exploring these methods, we aim to shift the focus from a human-centered view of beekeeping to one that respects the intelligence and autonomy of the honey bee as an organism. The honey bee is not merely a passive worker in the industrial agricultural system—rather, it is a complex, self-regulating organism capable of thriving independently when provided with the right conditions. Through rewilding, bees can adapt to local ecosystems, increase genetic diversity, and re-establish resilience in the face of environmental pressures.
This knowledge share offers an important perspective on alternatives to conventional beekeeping, rooted in the ecological wisdom of the Northeast beekeeping community, and invites us to reconsider how we coexist with and care for these essential pollinators.
We will explore:
the Role of Bees in the Ecosystem and Food System
the Principles of Biomimicry in Beekeeping
Sustainable Beekeeping Techniques
the Intelligence of Bees as a Collective Organism
the Importance of Genetic Diversity in Bee Communities
the Impact of Industrial Beekeeping Practices
how to Create a Bee-Friendly Environment
Cost
$35 - Living Library Membership (access all knowledge shares for the month and our archive for $35)
$45 - low income
$65 - standard
$90 - pay-it-forward (if you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)
or access this knowledge share via our Living Library for $35 a month
For more information on sliding scale please check out this amazing work!
The zoom link will be sent upon registration. Recording will be available for 30 days.
Please apply here for a scholarship.
Living Library
You can access this knowledge share and all of our 2025 knowledge shares by becoming a member of the Living Library.
We invite you to become a member of our Living Library, Herban Cura’s digital school & archive. The Living Library, is a subscription giving access to over 200 hours of present and past knowledge shares by wisdom holders, professors, land stewards, seed keepers, and investigators spanning Indigenous horse connections & dark sky wisdom, to seaweed medicine & more.
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Accessibility Information
Virtual Gathering
*ASR (automated) captioning provided
The knowledge share zoom link will be sent out immediately upon purchase, along with any other necessary information.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
5:00pm - 7:00pm Eastern Standard Time
Class will be recorded and available for 30 days. This means you can join from anywhere in the world.
Facilitator
Alysia Mazzella is a beeswax candlemaker, seasonal gardener, mother, and the co-founder of Backland NY—an educational apiary decentralizing beekeeper resources.