Spotlight on Brandon Reynolds
/BY CARA SCHAEFER
Hear a buzzing noise in your ear? It just might be a bustling, vivacious bee, but rest assured there’s no need to fear. We spoke with Brandon Reynolds, founder and “Chief Bee” of B The Keeper, about beekeeping, taking inspiration from nature, and how to help your local pollinators.
Photos courtesy of Brandon Reynolds.
OUT THERE: Why do you feel so drawn to bees?
BRANDON REYNOLDS: That’s the question that I love the most. It’s not like, why are you drawn to be in advertising? It’s, “Why are you so drawn to be connected with this creature that so many people are afraid of, except for the fact that they love eating honey?”
Bees, to survive, have to be so dialed into the ebb and flow of the environment. I feel like so many of us, me for a lot of my life included, have been so distanced from the environment. Whereas when you look at bees, their success wholly depends on: Is there enough food available for them to bring back to the hive? Is there adequate rain? Is it too cold? Are there pesticides and herbicides in the immediate area that are going to cause a lot of poison? What about the different insects or the mites? There's so many pieces of their development that it requires them to use all of their senses to survive their day to day. I'm so drawn to bees because it encourages me to use all of myself, to really tap into and observe the environment.
OT: What does beekeeping itself actually entail?
BR: A lot of people think beekeeping is the act of going into hives, putting on a suit, smoking the bees so they're a little more calm and collected. And sure — that's beekeeping as an activity. But what I’ve found over the years is that it’s what our name implies. It’s being a keeper. Being a steward for the colonies — the colonies that you serve, but also the wild colonies that you haven't ever seen. And even more so the different native bees that you will probably never find, unless you really went on a search mission. For me, beekeeping is all about how much pollinator habitat you are creating in your environment to support the local wildlife.
OT: What's your “parenting strategy” when it comes to taking care of bees?
BR: My parenting strategy is not being a helicopter parent. First and foremost, it's showing up to a colony when I'm needed, as opposed to when I need to. Letting them show me what they're working on, what they need, and me — instead of doing the work for them — taking a step back, understanding what they're communicating, and then helping where it's necessary. You create a system where the bees have more control, more ownership of their environment, and you're rewarded with bees that don't perish over the winter, bees that don't run out of food, and bees that are able to naturally keep off disease without any of your help, and I love it.
OT: What are some of the most common myths or things you hear that are just straight up wrong about bees?
BR: Bees aren't actually as aggressive as people say they are. Sure, bees sting people. It's a defense mechanism. It happens. Most of the time though — and I've been in hives with friends and students and apprentices — you got your arms exposed, you got your legs exposed, you're digging in this box with thousands of bees, and you haven't been stung.
I think attacking that misconception is really key. A lot of the reasons why people aren't thinking about nature as mindfully as they could, is because of fear. And I think dismantling that fear — even through something as simple as saying, “Hey, bees actually don't sting people when they're not provoked. And even if they are provoked, they're kind of like, ‘This is a last resort because I'm going to die after I do this, and I really would rather stay alive to eat some of that sweet stuff — I think dismantling the fear of bees actually could help people get more in tune with their environment. It's important to show that not only can you keep bees without cause for a significant injury, you can lower your guard in nature.
OT: How do we protect pollinators like bees in urban environments?
BR: Thinking outside of the hive. The biggest thing is give them some habitat. Give them an environment to actually just be bees. Plan out your landscape to be packed with native perennial plants, and you're a better beekeeper than most people, because you're creating habitat that stabilizes pollinator populations. So plant some stuff for bees!
OT: Are there any plants or other features that are especially great for creating pollinator habitat?
BR: If you want to add more native pollinators to your landscape, I would recommend looking for organizations in your part of town, look for your experts, look for your elders, look for the people that actually know the plant palette of your community, and really dig into what plants are native here. And how can I put them on my property in a way that is not only functional for the environment, but is also really aesthetically pleasing to the eye for my fellow humans. As soon as you can bridge that gap, you'll be planting more pollinator habitat than you thought you ever could.
There are also a lot of pollinators that make nests in old logs and trees. If you want to add some texture to your yard and provide a safe space for bees, leave that log cut down and let nature do its thing. Bees will appreciate you for it.
OT: What has beekeeping taught you personally?
BR: Beekeeping has really encouraged me to go through life with my eyes wide open. When you think about scout bees, they're looking for food or a potential home, they have to use all of themselves to acquire information and make change. The information that they bring back is something that could make or break a colony. And when I think about this looming, ever-present, ever-growing issue of climate change, and how it's my charge as a beekeeper, as a keeper of the environment, to help reverse climate change, I really take inspiration from the bees and how they motivate me to go through life constantly looking for opportunities. Realizing that you may just be one person, you may just be one bee in a hive, but you giving your all to help remedy an error, could have society-altering ripples that benefit everyone. So bees really, I love them. I love that they encourage me to be alive, stay open, and realize that everything is possible, if you want it to be.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
You can find Brandon on Instagram.
