In an effort to avert an impending ecological crisis, Morgan Freeman has turned his farm into a sanctuary for honeybees. The world-renowned actor and storyteller aims to provide a new chapter for the declining honeybee population by dedicating his 124-acre property to their preservation. In 2014, at the age of 81, Freeman transformed his Mississippi estate into a bee haven after taking up beekeeping as a hobby. He planted vast areas with bee-friendly plants such as clover, lavender, and magnolia trees, and imported 26 bee hives from Arkansas.
To help the bees acclimate to their new environment, Freeman provided them with sugar water. Remarkably, despite not wearing protective gear, he has never been stung. Freeman’s goal is to assist in repopulating the dwindling honeybee population; he does not harvest honey or disturb the hives.
Creating a bee sanctuary, according to Freeman, is his way of contributing to rebuilding “the foundation of the growth of the planet.”
In a 2016 interview on Larry King Live, Freeman explained his motivation for converting his property into a refuge for honeybees. “Bee colonies have been declining significantly, especially in this country,” he told King. “To the point where scientists are now warning that this is dangerous.”
Shortly after relocating the hives to his property in 2014, Freeman discussed his passion for beekeeping with Jimmy Fallon. “There is a concerted effort to bring bees back onto the planet,” he said. “I believe they are the basis for the planet’s growth, the vegetation, but we are unaware of this.”
Honeybees and other pollinators are crucial for the pollination of human crops. The loss of these pollinators would negatively impact our food supply, with potentially catastrophic effects on life as we know it.
Why are bees going extinct? Several factors, many of which involve human interference, are to blame. According to a poll conducted by Auburn University and the University of Maryland, American beekeepers reported that 40 percent of their colonies collapsed the previous year, a 33 percent increase from the year before. Various factors contribute to this die-off.
For over a decade, some bee species have suffered from colony collapse disorder. Scientists have proposed numerous potential explanations, including pesticides, environmental stressors, a lack of genetic diversity within colonies, and mite infestations.
The researchers behind the survey also suggest that bees may be victims of climate change. According to Geoffrey Williams, an assistant professor at Auburn, weather and temperature changes affect bee food and forage. Bees already on the brink of collapse are likely to fare worse in the event of sudden and drastic weather changes.
Pesticides are another major culprit. Neonicotinoid pesticides, commonly used in agricultural areas, kill bees and inhibit their reproduction. Scientists assert that these chemicals gradually reduce bee populations and are particularly harmful to queen bees, impacting bee populations over time.
Kudos to Freeman for creating a safe haven for honeybees. We all have a responsibility to the environment, and every action we take to protect it makes a difference.
