During the first three weeks of this course, I have gained a plethora of knowledge on bees from many reputable sources, including the first-hand experience of a beekeeper. My first experience with bees was through the film More Than Honey that we watched in class. It was interesting to learn about bees from multiple sources located all over the world and it was crazy how the bees and practices varied from location to location.  For example, in the United States, the beekeepers with lots of hives take their bees on a road trip every year. This is so they can maximize profit by starting in the almond orchards of California and slowly making their way east for the end of the season where their hives are harvested for honey. I was surprised to find out how huge the almond industry is, and how bees are such a crucial part of that. The podcast “Business of Bees” touched on this billion-dollar bee industry as well. Unfortunately, the bee business is booming but the bees themselves are having a bit of a hard time. The film and the podcast additionally addressed the different ways people care for their bees. Unfortunately, like most things here, the bee culture in the United States is almost all driven by money, with only a small number of bees being kept sustainably. Some beekeepers are strictly in it for the money, but others care for the greater good of the bees and have a deeper connection with the insects. When we went to Civic Garden Center, Ellie further emphasized the bees' need for a close connection, rather than a somewhat one-sided relationship. Local gardens like the Civic Garden Center are promoting healthy bee-keeping, but unfortunately, small gardens large farms are both faced with colony collapse disorder no matter how they care for their bees. While researchers aren’t totally sure what causes the disorder, they’re sure that we can be doing a better job using sustainable beekeeping practices. During our Livewell Collaborative empathy mapping exercise, we talked about ways to promote a healthier future for the bees. Our group of “farmers” discussed educating other farmers and young farmers about the importance of bee safety and health and encouraging people to use only natural fertilizers and pesticides that don’t harm the bees. I believe this was mentioned in both the film and the podcast, but one in everything three bites you eat wouldn’t be possible without the help of bees. The empathy mapping exercise helped me think of ways that different groups of people might be feeling about the bees' state and how they could work towards a better future for them. A better future for the bees means a better future for each of us, as we’ll be able to eat all the fruits and veggies, we love without having to employ people to hand pollinate flowers across the globe.