What began as a simple idea to enhance the edge of campus evolved into a meaningful project aimed at supporting environmental stewardship and expanding educational and community involvement. By transforming the field off the roundabout heading into campus into a habitat for bees, the College is not only supporting the vital efforts to save these essential pollinators but also offering students, faculty, and staff hands-on experience in the fascinating and fulfilling job of beekeeping.
“It began when we observed the growing interest in the wildflower meadow during football games in the fall,” said Director of Facilities Kevin Miller. “We wanted to establish something more beneficial for the students and the College community. With the increasing conversations about saving the bees, the idea of an apiary came up, and it quickly became a reality.”
In 2022, initial discussions about establishing an apiary began among faculty and staff members including Miller; Facilities Assistant Director of Operations William Gillen; Associate Professor of Biology David Lowry; Director of High Adventure Scott Schmolesky; former Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement Cameron Marshall ’12; and Assistant Professor of Biology Scott Starr, who has taken the lead in caring for the bees. It was recognized that the apiary would provide significant educational value to the College and additional community engagement.
In an effort to do our part to save the bees, the entire College community rallied together to contribute to the establishment of the apiary. Manager of College Grants and Core Cultures Program Administrator Sachiyo Dinmore assisted in securing funding for the apiary through two grants from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), which has previously provided funding for other College projects, including the terrace at Chalgrove Lake and enhancements to the Wilson Trail. The first grant of $11,000 covered initial apiary costs, while a second grant of $13,000 will be allocated for the construction of a shed to store equipment, including bee suits and other necessary items. Totaling $24,000, these grants will fully fund the apiary and shed additions.
Students played a crucial role in the apiary’s development, contributing their expertise in drone imagery layouts and site planning. Their work, combined with the efforts of the Facilities Management team, led to the installation of the first hive in March and the addition of a second hive in April, both protected by an electric fence to keep the bees safe from bears. According to Starr, the goal is to gradually expand the apiary to approximately ten hives.
“This is a truly fascinating and engaging experience,” Starr said. "Bees are essential to our environment and play a crucial role in the food we depend on. They pollinate the region, and it's exciting that we have the opportunity to care for them and study how they carry out their lives.”
The apiary houses European honey bees, sourced from a beekeeper in neighboring Charlotte County, Virginia, with each hive containing ten frames per box. One of the hives was generously donated by Scott Poling, a local beekeeper and mentor to Starr. Additionally, Keith Tignor '80, another mentor to Starr, contributed three hive body setups (the wooden components of the hives). Tignor, a Virginia state apiarist with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and Poling, who works for VDACS seasonally, have both played significant roles in the apiary's development and will continue to offer their support. With plans to expand, there are hopes of harvesting honey in the future.
“Harvesting honey and using it for fundraising is an excellent way to sustain the apiary’s operation in the future,” Starr noted. “Our goal is to involve students so that they regularly care for the bees, develop expertise in beekeeping, and actively contribute to fundraising efforts.”
Miller echoed Starr’s sentiments, saying, “The apiary presents an opportunity to involve students from various disciplines across campus. By leveraging the expertise of different majors, we can enhance our ability to support the apiary through the products it produces. Additionally, students will gain valuable real-world experience they can reflect upon.”
Activities associated with the apiary include inspecting the hives, checking for the presence of a queen, evaluating potential diseases, and assessing space needs. Students, faculty, and staff will engage in these tasks to gain practical experience and deepen their understanding of beekeeping practices. Additionally, the apiary will provide opportunities for research on bee behavior and health, as well as insights into hive management.
Students, faculty, and staff will also have the chance to explore and study the adjacent wildflower meadow. This meadow features a diverse mix of annuals and perennials such as cosmos, black-eyed Susans, and clover. It will offer further research opportunities while also serving as a place for the bees to pollinate.
“We view the wildflower meadow as a significant advantage for both students and the community,” said Gillen. “Our goal is to maximize its impact by integrating the additional advantages provided by bees, ultimately benefiting everyone.”
Starr has plans for an introductory beekeeping course to be offered in the spring of 2025, which may include opportunities for faculty and staff participation. Furthermore, following the Heart of Virginia Beekeepers Conference held on campus last January, there are continually developing opportunities for engaging the Farmville community.
As the College continues to create unique and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with the natural world, the apiary stands as a shining example of how a good man and a good citizen cares for even the smallest creatures, recognizing that all of life is interconnected and interdependent.
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