Melanie Kirby

Melanie hails from the southern Rocky Mountains and is a member of Tortugas Pueblo, with mixed Indigenous, Caribbean, and European ancestry. She began keeping bees 28 years ago and they continue to introduce her to the interconnected dynamics of agroecology, cultural diversity, scientific inquiry, and creative communication. Learn more here.

“I am a Nectar Nomad following the bloom with winged midwives of agriculture. As a landless beekeeper, inspiration for accessing healthy forage for my fuzzy and buzzy livestock comes by working in community. In exchange, they pollinate farms to forest lands, and in so doing, help to nurture the next generation of seeds, stewards, and society through their tireless efforts of working in tandem and in reciprocity with Nature. My approach and practice is rooted in my multicultural Indigenous heritage that reveres how interconnected we are. Bees bring us together and being a steward of sweetness and light continues to humble and encourage me to advocate for mindful relationships that support food and biodiversity for now and future generations. I hope I can inspire my descendants as my ancestors inspire me to serve, to work in community, and to bee the change I want to see in the world. ”

“I’m excited about epigenetics—how environment shapes learning, memory, and behavior. Animal and Plant Relatives are constantly learning about their environment. These learnings become memories and these memories become stories. These stories are adaptive and become encoded in their DNA. I’m also really excited about weaving art, science, and stewardship in my farming efforts to better support whole-system reflection and interdisciplinary approaches for regenerative methodologies, inclusive practices, and for sharing and teaching.”