January - April 2023: Accomplishments, Wins, And Hope-Igniting Moments

Behind the scenes of our fundraisers and the bee facts we post on social media, things have been happening! Sometimes it’s more gritty - conflict resolution, re-establishment of our workplace rules and boundaries, tears, and the overflow of personal crises into the office or bee yard. And always, within and between the more trying moments, there are accomplishments, personal and professional growth, and hope-igniting moments. 

We’re highlighting some of those heart hugging happenings and events from the last four months below.

In March, youth bee apprentice Maria and junior beekeeping instructor Alex presented at Huneebee’s first CT NOFA annual conference! They were joined by our lead beekeeping instructor, Tim, and shared their stories with beekeeping as well as thoughts about what makes beekeeping a therapeutic practice.

Our beloved friend and Huneebee champion Claire, owner of Claire’s Corner Copia, invited our team into her kitchen for four Tuesdays in January and February. They co-created a list of dishes, and Claire instructed on all things cooking - from knife skills to nutrition. Then, in early April, our team had the pleasure of hosting Claire in our kitchen for empanadas and tostones!

In January, a sweet and enthusiastic group of teens from New Haven’s High School in the Community and Madison’s Daniel Hand High School visited our office as a part of their Urban Suburban Exchange programming. We shared some facts on honey bees and a few smoke blessings, and they shared their hammering and painting skills! We ended with 6 new bee boxes, countless new frames, and a date to do some gardening together at Arthur Street in June.

Charters are integral to Huneebee’s internal operations and approaches to interacting with our community. They exist in each of our garden spaces, but until this year we haven’t had one in our office. Our team of youth employees - from Garden Site Managers to our Operations Assistant and Bee Apprentice - came together early this year and co-constructed our first office Charter.

Maddie Nagler’s award winning short film and documentary featuring Alexandra Guzman, Huneebee’s Junior Beekeeping Instructor was screened in March at Armada Brewing for our friends and supporters. This screening was long awaited and highlighted the impact of community, belonging, and beekeeping on mental health. As well as Alex’s admirable courage, vulnerability, and activism in support of mental health awareness!

The first quarter of 2023 was heavy on the flowers (and no complaints, here!) ! We launched our first Flower CSA, planted dozens of varieties of pollinator-friendly seedlings, and watched our first tulips bloom over at the Rosette Street garden.

Friends from New Reach, Winning Ways, the Yale Child Study Center, Urban Resources Initiative (URI), and the New Haven Climate Movement came together at Rosette Street to build and fill garden beds in anticipation of Spring! They also took on some of our heaviest spring cleaning yet. They helped us to remove a dozen bags of a VERY serious garbage pile - think televisions, a partially decomposing suitcase, and window pieces. One of the many reasons we could not do this work without community!

We recently welcomed a 9th staff member to the team, and our first hire from 2022’s BKIR training cohort! Meet River (she/he/they)! River attends Wilbur Cross High School and ECA (Educational Center of Arts), where she focuses in visual arts. She is also big into gardening and growing herbs to use in teas, foods, and dyes. She works as a Peer Instructor, offering mentorship and instruction to the newest cohort of beekeeping trainees, while also getting in some hive time herself!

Speaking of the newest cohort of beekeeping trainees! The first Beekeepers in Residence training group of 2023 is in full motion! We have 4 incredible, sensitive, enthusiastic, and talented 15-17 year olds with us, and they suited up for the first time just this past weekend. Look at those smiles!!!

Alex, a Junior Beekeeping Instructor; Gianna, an Operations Assistant; and Jay, a Garden Site Manager, celebrated FOUR years with Huneebee in March! These three bright lights were a part of Huneebee’s second training cohort in 2019, and are jumping into their fifth year as integral parts of the Huneebee team.

Thanks to you for being a part of the ride. :) And now onward to the next 4 months, the next 4 years, more gritty moments, and more joy.

With love,