On Deerfield Beekeeping: An Interview with Maeve ‘27

By Ella Waag

During fall term, students had the opportunity to participate in a new club run by Maeve ‘27 and Cormac ‘26. Located behind the freshmen dorms, the beekeeping club meets weekly while in season to harvest honey from hive bodies. Mr. Jan, the club’s faculty advisor, helps assist the beekeeping process. However, the club is predominantly ran by the student leaders and involvement from the student body. Keep reading to learn more about the club from an interview with Maeve ‘27.

Ella ‘26: How'd you initially become interested in beekeeping?

Maeve ‘27: Last spring, Mr. Jan posted a picture of the Deerfield beehives on the student bulletin. When I saw this post, I immediately emailed him, saying I wanted to visit the bees. Throughout that spring, and summer I helped care for the honeybees.”

Ella ‘26: What does your process look like/how'd you start up the club?

Maeve ‘27: This fall Mr. Jan, Cormac, and I considered the benefits of a beekeeping club. Only a few students are needed to maintain the hives, but we wanted the student engagement that a club could provide. While supplies, finances, and decision making are mostly managed by Mr. Jan, with occasional consultation between the three of us, student involvement in beekeeping is controlled by me and Cormac.

Ella ‘26: How are you benefitting Deerfield's community? What about the local community?

Maeve ‘27: There is not one breathtaking impact we have on the community. Instead, we do lots of little things to benefit those around us. We invite all students and faculty to visit the bees and learn about them. During the fall, we harvest honey and distribute it, thanking those who helped in the process. Although we can operate independently, we occasionally bring in outside expertise. Tom Graney, from the Franklin County Beekeepers Association, acts as our advisor and mentor. Whenever he visits, his deep knowledge, humbles and impresses me, as I always learn heaps of new information about honeybees. His commitment and love of beekeeping inspires me to take the time to try and understand our honeybees.

Ella ‘26: What's the overall goal of the program?

Maeve ‘27: When we started the club, it was not because we wanted to raise honeybees, we were already doing that. It was because we wanted to engage the Deerfield student body. Honeybees are so different from most creatures we interact with, and I think that the awe that comes from watching our honey bees live is enough of a reason to create a club.