In 2012 while studying in Chile, I ended up volunteering for Marisol Coñuaquil of Colmenares Trankurra. Marisol is a Mapuche indigenous beekeeper working hard to bring prosperity and recognition to her historically marginalized community. In This photo my friend Dale and I experienced the excitment of our first swarm. I knew from our experience in Trankurra that bees would be a part of my life.

While working a construction job, I would spend hours listening to Solomon Parker’s treatment-free beekeeping podcast while I swept floors and threw scrap wood into dumpsters. One day, after listening to a talk by Les Crowder and Sam Comfort, I realized something. I could use all of this scrap wood to make beehives. Due to it’s simplistic design, I was drawn to the top-bar hive and have been building them ever since with recycled materials.

To gain more knowledge in the field of top-bar beekeeping I traveled to Hilo Hawaii to work under Jen Rassmussen of Paradise Nectar Apiaries. She is a leader in both top-bar and treatment free beekeeping. I continue to learn so much from the incredible work Jen and her partner John are doing.

I feel blessed to further treatment-free beekeeping and top-bar beekeeping in the Bay Area and wherever else I may be.