This story takes us into the world of California beekeeper Eli Lichter-Marck, whose search for meaning and truth led him into an unusual and unexpected occupation. Heeding the advice of his college Shakespeare professor, Lichter-Marck, a surfer with a philosopher's soul, bided his time after graduation to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Then a series of events brought him to a choice: to bee, or not to bee? The article takes us from the bees' lush floral feeding grounds around Lichter-Marck's home in Pacific Palisades, to a bee laboratory at Barnard, to the backyard of a beekeeping Columbia psychology professor. Lichter-Marck’s passion for these vital pollinators—and for the delicious honey they produce—is a study in sweetness and light.
From the Judges
Quirky, fun, and entertaining, this is a refreshing exit from the pandemic de jour. Excellent editing makes this a fast, effortless, and intelligible read.
