Hive Mind: The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Beekeeping
Hive Mind: The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Beekeeping
Hive Mind: The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Beekeeping This story was produced in collaboration with MindSite News, a nonprofit news outlet reporting on mental health. Sign up for the MindSite News Daily newsletter here. T ucked away in the shaded corner of a community garden in New Haven, Connecticut, a beehive awaits. Seven teenagers are here to check on their beehive’s health, but before they do, they need to prepare themselves for the moment. Gathered beneath a bountiful oak tree, they pull on their bee suits — pink and white and pale green — and don protective gloves and face coverings to avoid any risk of a sting. Adam Ingrao checks on a hive. The first time he entered a bee yard, “it was transformative,” he says. Credit: Lacey Ingrao They bathe in the fog that spills out from a handheld smoker filled with burning white pine needles. It will mask any pheromones the bees emit and keep them calm during the inspection. The teens take a breath, steady their nerves, and approach …