Chapter 6

Demanding that someone else do something to fix the world is generally ineffective. The important question to ask is, “What can I do to improve the habitat for myself, and the other living things around me?”

We are, already, a part of something larger than ourselves: our habitat. Our health depends on its health. Every living thing in your locality is a part of it . . . starting with the soil ecosystem . . . and the health of every living thing depends on the health of this habitat that we, collectively, create.

The plans to Building 7 Modified Warre Bee Hives are ready and posted on line, or I can e-mail a set to you. On January 29 we will build 7 hives as an exercise in alternative production systems. We have 4 people who contributed $100.00 to participate in the build. That will cover the cost of all the materials for 7 hives. Each of those participants will take home a hive worth about $300 retail. Our team will have three hives in exchange for our efforts and expertise in holding the event. That makes it a partnership in developing the capacity to produce honey.

I am making the plans available free of charge as a part of developing the technology. The technology we seek is the know how to have productive relationships with other living things that are not mediated by money. It requires being aware of the needs of other living things, and their contribution to the habitat, when we choose how to spend our available time and money. I have expressed that as, “Honoring the gift of the least among us”.

You may not be interested in raising bees, or have carpentry skills, but there are people in both categories in your locality. All of you, and the habitat in your locality, will benefit from more bee colonies, in more bee hives, with more diverse genetics, pollinating more flowers, in an environment with fewer poisons.

Making those connections, for the people around you, is one thing you can do to improve your habitat.