For the final group project, my group elected to create a non-profit organization aimed at sustaining and supporting the natural biodiversity of the Earth. Our Diverse Earth or "ODE" was a non-profit with the mission of supporting biodiversity efforts from small scale grass roots behaviors all the way to full scale agricultural practices. The main focus of the organization centers on the principles of educating, enabling, and promoting biodiversity efforts. This was to be accomplished through outreach programs in communities, the selling of biodiversity products such as bee kits and seed packets, and consultation with farmers to promote poly- over mono- agriculture.
Overall, the project really helped emphasis the vast scale of the wicked problem regarding bees. Our groups project focused on one aspect, Agriculture, and still had a scale ranging from the individual to the commercial farm. Being able to narrow on one aspect of the problem, maintaining a full appreciation of the scope, and understanding our limitations was important to our success. The largest limitation our project faced surrounded fundraising. Having individuals buy into the mission and enticing farmers to make changes are the biggest limitations. A strength of the project was the emphasis on collaboration. ODE aims not to be the policy maker or change bringer, but rather educate and enable individuals to take action. The scale of those actions is vast, but ODE attempts to make it easy for everyone to do something.
Finally, the project and the class left me with an appreciation for the value of working withing a diverse team. Different skills and backgrounds helped to produce the most well rounded project and ensure high levels of craftsmanship on all areas of the project. A link to the final project website is attached as an artifact.

Book Club Presentation on Bee Time by Mark L. Winston.

The book centers on what we can learn from bees, what we can do to help address their crisis, and perhaps most importantly the need for dialogue to make progress in all areas of society.

A recommended read for experienced beekeepers, newbies, and anyone with an interest into bees, society, or dialogue.

​For my interview, I chose my father. He was accessible for an interview, but more importantly has always been an example of innovation and self-reliance in my life. For as long as I can remember, we was reading a new book, working on a home project, or trying to help my brothers or me with a school project. He is an electrical engineer by trade. My father is not the prototypical example of an innovator, but his problem solving approach has been a model throughout my life and made him an easy choice.
The interview was relatively informal and took place as a Saturday couch conversation while watching college football. Despite the informality, it did provide some unique perspectives I had not originally considered. When asked to define innovation, my father provided the stereotypical engineering definition of solving a problem. Essentially, innovation exists in any unique solution to solving a problem. The solution does not need to be entirely original, perhaps it was just repurposed, but in solving any problem big or small, a level of innovation exists. He went on to explain that a lot of his motivation for any of his personal innovation was simply trying to do something cheaper or more efficiently for the family, or to provide an opportunity for myself or my brothers to learn how to do something. This comment echoed the efforts of LiveWell. When it came to an attitude or process that made his attempt at innovation successful my father’s confidence, or cockiness depending on the project was not lost on me. “Simply figure it out”. He spoke about having both the ability and the desire to learn something new. For an example, he had never build a septic tank drainage field, but he read a lot about it and figured out how to finish it. That particular bit of advice stuck with me. Learning something new always seems to be overwhelming at first, but being able to innovator or produce something unique often requires research and understanding of the current state of the field. As the conversation shifted to issues or problems, I was able to provide a majority of the examples. Knowing your limits was the message he preached. Being able to learn a theory or get the equipment to start a new project does not always compensate for a lack of practice or skill. I have a scar on my ankle from a saw my father was trying to use while I provided a counter weight on the board. Being able to recognize your own limits regarding skills, funds, or time is a crucial part of being a successful inventor or problem solver. Finally, my father’s dream project is to build his own pizza oven at our house. He has several home projects that come before it, but hopes to have it finished at some point in the next 10 years.
My father is certainly not a perfect innovator. The scar on my ankle, the basement renovation entering its 5th year, and the occasional use of duct tape certainly provide examples of that. However, his mission to provide for his family, and give my brothers and I the opportunity to learn have been accomplished. I can change my own oil, and have the confidence to try new things mostly thanks to my father.

​​I was unable to attend the Greenacres Field Trip experience, and therefore had to take the reflection assignment in a different direction. Last weekend I was back at my parent’s home, and decided to be more open to reflection, and stay cognizant to what I was experiencing while I was inspecting my own personal hive.
To provide a little bit of background around the hive and myself, I got my first beehive because I wanted a dog. In an attempt to highball my parents in the negotiation for a family canine I requested an apiary and was shocked when my parents agreed. Despite my surprise, I never looked back and quickly became fascinated by the intricacy of the insects.  Their surprising complexity quickly captured my interest. Once I started, I was hooked. I have read several books about beekeeping over the last 5 plus years, joined a club, and I am always fascinated by how much there is to learn about a seemingly simple little insect. Beekeeping had become a majority of my social media updates, friends I haven’t seen in months always ask “How are the bees?”, but I have never really stopped to question what about the insects I was so fascinated by, and how they became such a large part of my personality. This question was the focus of my reflection as I prepared for a routine hive inspection.
As I prepared to open the hive, I was struck by just how much I had learned over the course of the five years. I can recall back to when I first started keeping bees and everything was new, confusing, and often times intimidating. I would spend nearly an hour preparing for a simple inspection, and now it can be done in under 15 mins. Additionally, I used to be overly afraid of being stung. Being mildly allergic being stung is always more than a minor inconvenience. However, with experience I have learned plenty of techniques to avoid a being stung, and work to keep the hive calm.
Throughout the hive inspection, I continued to be fascinated by the organization of the hive. There were over 30,000 bees in the hive, yet every single one of them has a task and a mission. Additionally, just by listening and looking I was able to observe the mood of the hive and determine the overall level of agitation I was causing. All of these learnings have come with experience. I still learn something new every time I talk with another beekeeper. Everyone has his or her own method and staying in touch with that community has helped me refine my own style.
Although I was disappointed to miss the Greenacres experience, my own reflection has proved valuable. It has given me a new appreciation for all the lessons and values I have acquired over my time as a beekeeper. I have come to realize the impact the bees have had on my personality and life. Being a beekeeper has become part of who I am, I have made friends through it, and being able to check on the bees or just watch them go about their business provides a sense of calm. This has given a new value to the goal of the class to study the wicked problem concerning the honeybees. Addressing this issue facing our pollinators helps ensure others will have the opportunity to experience the bees the way that I have.