Calvin Robinson grew up around honeybees. Even though he loved the honey his dad and uncle’s hives produced, as a child he had a fear of being stung. He earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management and interpretation and a minor in animal science and served as a park ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway, realizing that when it came to honeybees, there was nothing to be afraid of. A longing for the Sourwood honey his family produced led him to enroll in a beginning beekeepers course. And the rest, including serving as vice president of the Buncombe County Beekeepers Chapter (BCBC) and educating the public about honeybees and sustainable honey production, is history.

Has the world of beekeeping changed since you became involved?

Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, has killed off a huge portion of our bee population across the world, and varroa mites, an exotic parasite, are becoming immune to some pesticides being used to keep them in check.

When and how did you first become involved with Buncombe County Beekeepers Chapter and what is the organization’s role in our community?

I became involved with BCBC as soon as I finished their beekeeping course. I just finished a two-year term as vice president. My current role there is as a mentor. I volunteer at all chapter functions and am helping to plan the next bee school.

BCBC educates people about honeybees and their value to our agriculture and economy. We help people get started as beekeepers and be the best beekeepers they can possibly be. Promotion of honeybee products is also a role we take seriously.

What are some of the educational opportunities you’re involved in, and what role do you think education plays in securing the life of honeybees?

I’ve taught sessions at the yearly BCBC beekeeping course, I teach personal beekeeping lessons, and I’m available to mentor people that have finished their beekeeping training. I always educate people about honeybees when I sell my honey at the tailgate market—many of our new beekeepers get interested there.Young beekeepers are needed, because the average age of beekeepers is getting to be fairly high. I’m almost 50 and find I’m among the younger beekeepers!

What are some of your accomplishments of which you’re most proud?

I’ve been successful in keeping bees without using pesticides to defeat the mites, and I now teach people to keep bees without using toxic chemicals in the hive. I’m also breeding bees that thrive without chemical treatments. I believe we at BCBC have helped to make WNC a hotbed for beekeeping in the U.S.

What’s your advice for those interested in honeybees and beekeeping?

I advise people interested in beekeeping to not wait. Sign up for the next beekeeping course and get your bees. Hands on is how you learn. You’ll make mistakes, but usually each mistake is only made once. Join your local beekeeping club and participate. Get a mentor for advice, support and encouragement. Ask people you know to support beekeeping education and research with donations to organizations that do these valuable tasks.

What is your motto?

My motto is change the beekeeping world one beekeeper at a time or one hundred at a time. I just take it as it comes.

For more information about BCBC, visit www.wncbees.org. Calvin can be reached at beeblessed@charter.net, or visit his honey website at www.sourwoodknoll.com.

Interview by Maggie Cramer

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