Dear Editor,
This week I had the great pleasure of introducing Mark Winston, author of Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive, at his book reading at the Rustique Bistro. The evening was rich with conversation, a personal and heartfelt oration, and delicious - a la honey – food. Many thanks to: Thierry and Celine at Rustique, for creating the delicious menu and hosting us; Bonnie Wright from the Pheonix for bringing in Mark’s books for signing; and everyone who joined us for the evening. A special thanks to Mark Winston for sharing his wisdom and passion for bees with us on Bowen. We learnt that the plight of bees is indeed a foreshadowing of our own potential plight. They are our canary in the coal mine. To care for the bees is to care for ourselves. To this end, Mark invited us to invest in more garden, and less lawn; create gardens that nourish biodiversity and flourish without pesticides; and to appreciate the un-kept corners of our gardens, where mounds of dirt and decaying foliage create inviting habitat for bees. The lessons from bees for ourselves: slow down, listen more and foster collaboration within the hive of humanity.
Signed copies of “Bee Time: Lessons from the Hive” are available at the Pheonix.
Brenda Morrison
