The Space Case

Spring in Maine means many things—the thawing of the land and the subsequent mud season we are all so fond of, the return of life, and for beekeepers, the return to the hives. It’s a season of hope and hard work, a time when I begin the dance of tending to the bees and respecting the wild rhythms of nature.

But this season arrives with an added weight. As I watch news of space missions I’m also aware of the fact that beekeepers across the world are reporting catastrophic colony losses. Climate concerns grow ever more urgent, and the apathy toward protecting the natural world around us feels painfully apparent. While science pushes outward towards space, many of us are fighting to preserve life in the spaces we’re already in.

For me, tending to bees is a sacred act, a responsibility rooted in reciprocity. I recently revisited Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a book that beautifully describes our reciprocal relationship with the Earth—how we must both give and receive with respect. This philosophy mirrors bee keeping in many ways. The bees provide so many gifts—pollination, honey, wax, propolis, lessons in patience and resilience. In return, my role is to ensure they have what they need to thrive. If I take honey, I take only what is ethical and leave them with enough to survive. It is a relationship built on mutual support.

This practice of reciprocity extends far beyond the hive—I find that it’s a way of engaging with the world that counters the unchecked extraction mindset so many have been taught. There are people who understand this reciprocity and commit themselves to caring and being good stewards to the Earth. And yet, there are many who have never been taught to give back, who take without consideration.

Disconnection from nature breeds apathy. When we forget the relationship we hold with the world around us, we risk losing something profound—a sense of purpose rooted in care for others. Progress should not only mean reaching beyond our planet; it should mean deepening our relationships within it. My belief is that to move forward is to commit to a more compassionate stewardship of our ecosystems, to nurture our communities, and to uphold care for the land and all that sustains us.

So as I step into another bee season, I’m doing so with greater awareness. The hum of the hive reminds me of the beautiful web of life we are part of and the responsibility we hold. It reminds me that the way forward is to build a future where reciprocity, not apathy, defines our presence on this Earth.