Vermont Humanities

Bees Besieged: A History of Beekeeping

Man giving a talk in a bike shop
Speakers Bureau

Image of beekeeper with hive“The bees are the color; everything else is black and white.” – Kirk Webster, Bridport beekeeper.

Beekeeping goes back 10,000 years, but bees have been much in the news recently as a multi-pronged scourge has devastated many of the nation’s 2.5 million colonies. Meanwhile, hobby beekeeping has grown exponentially in the country.

Bill Mares, writer, and a beekeeper for 45 years, will tell of the origins and evolution of beekeeping, sometimes referred to as “farming for intellectuals,” with a particular emphasis on his new book, with Ross Conrad, and others, “The Land of Milk and Honey, a History of Beekeeping in Vermont.” (Green Writers Press).

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About the Presenter

Talks by Bill Mares

Image of beekeeper with hive

Bees Besieged: A History of Beekeeping

Bill Mares, writer, and a beekeeper for 45 years, tells of the origins and evolution of beekeeping, with a particular emphasis on his research in Vermont. 

Bill Mares and friend with beer

From Homebrew to the House of Fermentology

Bill Mares began making his own beer 45 years ago, when homebrewing was illegal and there were no microbreweries in America. Today there are over 7,000 such breweries nationwide, and Vermont has the highest percentage of breweries per capita in the country. In this presentation, Mares will discuss the American beer revolution, Vermont’s small but significant contribution, and his co-ownership of a brewery.

Vermont Humanities*** December 22, 2017