In 2021 I purchased my first pair of binoculars, determined to study the birds that visited my backyard. At the same time I began gardening, I also set up a bird feeder to support my brethren with beaks. I knew absolutely nothing about birds. The only species of bird I felt familiar with was the mighty pigeon, and that too was a bird I neglected to notice. However, once I got my hands on those binoculars I started sitting outside in my yard trying to observe everything that I could about bird behavior. It was as if I was using my eyes for the first time, perceiving something I had never even thought of before.

It was, at times, funny to observe bird behavior. Birds are all around us, making their presence known. Whether it's the fuzzy outline of a nest in a tree, or the sound of birdsong, birds are sort of always there, yet this was my first time really appreciating them and sharing space with them. I was in complete awe of everything. I experienced pure joy watching cardinals swallow sunflower seeds. It was also just as exciting to realize that there were a lot more birds that visited my backyard than I had anticipated.

July 19th, 2024 - Wildflower Honey
I vividly remember holding a funeral for a bee when I was a child. I was never afraid of these small but mighty creatures. My eyes would always follow them as they danced from flower to flower - they still do. It was only recently that my fascination with bees began to manifest itself through intentional learning. The first opportunity I had to dive into beekeeping was during a Hands-On Honey Harvest at the ​​Queens County Farm Museum. 

The farm has an apiary, which is a place where honey bees and their hives are tended to and kept. The apiary at Queens County Farm has been producing honey for over 40 years, producing almost 1000 pounds of honey each year. Beekeeping truly is an art form, and it was through this introductory class that I got a taste (pun intended) of what its like to not only collect honey, but to also honor them as micro emperors of the Earth and all that inhabit it. 

In order to understand the larger issues surrounding our climate and environment, you need to start small and look in between the petals first. This course was the catalyst for a journey that I planned to be on for the next month.