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About the Author

Noah Landau '25 (he/him) is an Environmental Science major from Illinois. Outside of the Bee Club, Noah works at the , the Pat Peroni Greenhouse, and is an intern with the .

Growing my fascination with pollinators, I ventured into study of the natural world primarily through the course “Environmental Natural Science and Biology.”

Before arriving at 51����, I knew I had to throw myself straight into anything and everything related to my dream. Looking through the long list of opportunities, clubs, and organizations on and off campus, I found the . I knew that with my motivation and determination, I could make a difference in the organization.

I had visited a hive only once before and was intimidated at first, but found the bees fascinating. The first time opening a hive can be scary. In Bee Club, we implement measures to ensure there is always someone to help, if needed. If you aren’t afraid of them, they won’t be afraid of you.

During the school year we regularly inspect the hives and host opportunities to become certified in beekeeping. During my research over the summer the majority of campus went home, yet the bees remained hard at work. Each weekend I took the long walk over to The Farm, where the bees are situated, and made sure everything was looking healthy. The North Carolina heat can be difficult, and we had a scare in which our valuable queen had stopped laying eggs, but through reading articles and learning from an expert, the beekeeper Marcel Renn, we were able to foster conditions for the hive to establish a new queen. Almost miraculously, the hive was back at it once again!

I’m grateful for my ability to express and experience the things I am passionate about on and off campus. Just like the bees, I am always working. I continue to pursue my interest in the natural world at 51���� and am able to be a part of Bee Club, work at the , look after the plants in the Pat Peroni Greenhouse, and have connections with, and intern at, the 51���� Farmers Market. I continue to use the knowledge I’ve gained through academics, research, and hands-on experiences to guide me through my work. Once you get started in something you love, many more opportunities related to it become available. I hope that after reading this, you think deeply about how you can make a difference to better the world we live in, even if by just supporting the sustainable organizations of your community.

Just as we look after each other, we have to look after these bees, and, although we don’t expect any honey yet, patience is a virtue and nothing is as sweet as that!