Now that is a true beekeeper, someone who loves the sound of her bees and marvels at the intricacy of taking care of them, despite hardship, disappointment and small payoffs when only a bit of honey is harvested.
Miss Laura, as many children know her after attending one of her Library programs, is also passionate about sharing her interests and her love of learning with local children. Hundreds have explored science and nature with Miss Laura for nearly 12 years. Thanks to her, children of all ages have special memories of watching a chick hatch out of its egg or cradling a baby chicken in their hands while at Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library.
That’s why she was a natural choice to help promote our Geek the Library campaign.
You may have seen her ad in the Zionsville Times Sentinel, or caught her smiling face on the Library’s website. Now, in keeping with the “What do you Geek?” theme, she also agreed to share her story about becoming a beekeeper 10 years ago.
It all started at a Library program. (Could it have happening anywhere else?) She brought in veteran beekeeper Dr. Lee Bobbitt to teach the basics of beekeeping to local children. With retirement approaching, Dr. Bobbitt was looking to pass his skill on to someone and offered to mentor Miss Laura through her first hive. She accepted and was on the road to discovering what she geeks!
While the process has not always been pleasant, she’s been stung several times; she’s enjoyed learning about the bees and what it takes to develop a healthy hive. “It’s so interesting because everything is so interconnected. You really have to understand the bee and its life cycle,” she said. “Right now, the flowers are blooming and the Queen is laying eggs. I have to make room (inside the hive) for their babies.”
Checking out books on bees and beekeeping was one of the ways Miss Laura learned her craft. Techniques for combating mites and viruses- which can kill a whole hive - and how habitat and weather can impact bees are just a few of the things she has learned from library books.
Her passion for bees has also led her to offer bee programs to local children at the Library. Throughout her tenure as a beekeeper, she has shared examples of the stages of bee development, sheets of honeycomb, jars full of bees, and samples of harvested honey during several programs.
Now, she also purchases books on the subject to stock the shelves in the Youth Department at the Library. Children of all ages may learn about bees and beekeeping by checking out books from the Library or dropping by the Youth Reference Desk and asking Miss Laura what she geeks.
If bees are not for you, Miss Laura also geeks nature, figuring out how things work, tending chickens and gardening. And, she’s really good at helping children find books and stories that interest them.
Have you developed a new hobby after attending a Library program or by checking out a book, audio book or movie? Did you perfect a skill or find a new job with the help of the Library? We would like to hear your story. Post a comment here or email us; maybe we’ll be telling your story next.
