Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 4-15-2021 2:00 PM Pollinator People: an ethnography of bees, bee advocates and possibilities for multispecies commoning in Toronto and London, ON Rebecca A. Ellis, The University of Western Ontario Supervisor: Weis, Tony, The University of Western Ontario A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Geography © Rebecca A. Ellis 2021 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Human Geography Commons Recommended Citation Ellis, Rebecca A., "Pollinator People: an ethnography of bees, bee advocates and possibilities for multispecies commoning in Toronto and London, ON" (2021). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 7796. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7796 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract There is growing scientific evidence showing that many important pollinator species are in decline around the world. Bees are the most important pollinators in many parts of the world, and the combination of population declines in wild bees and widespread health problems among domesticated honey bees have potentially devastating impacts on both ecosystem health and agricultural prospects. Some scientists, native bee advocates, and beekeepers argue that cities can provide a refuge for bees from pesticide-laden rural landscapes, which has contributed to an increase in urban, hobbyist beekeeping and pollinator gardening. This dissertation employs a multi-sited ethnography based in two cities in Ontario, London and Toronto, to explore how the knowledges and experiences of urban bee advocates – who I call ‘pollinator people’ – shape the ways in which urban spaces are created, used, and managed. My approach is informed by a range of literatures, most notably urban political ecology and heterodox Marxism. A central argument of this dissertation is that urban, hobbyist beekeeping and pollinator gardening allow people to engage in ‘playful work’, a form of concrete, sensuous human activity that evokes feelings of curiosity and wonder. I also stress the importance of considering interspecies relations, highlighting how many of these pollinator people form strong emotional and embodied relationships with bees. Some native bee advocates argue that urban honey bees may cause some harm to native, wild bees through floral competition and pathogen transfer. This research suggests that bee- centred beekeeping utilizing organic management practices may help to sustain healthier, more resilient honey bees. Rather than banishing honey bees to rural landscapes of monocultures and pesticides where they are numerous but sickly, an emphasis should be placed on the creation of landscapes of abundance in which healthier honey bees can flourish together with native wild bees. Urban farms and community gardens are some of the most potent sites for landscapes of abundance in which people flourish alongside bees. Additionally, the experiences of beekeepers who collectively keep honey bees in shared apiaries can provide valuable insight into how humans can negotiate agency and autonomy with the animals whose lives they are managing to some degree. These experiences and knowledges can help create multispecies urban commons in which non-human animals, even insects, are integrated and considered within processes of radical democracy. ii Keywords: urban political ecology, apiculture, social reproduction theory, critical animal studies, alternative food systems, heterodox Marxist theory, interspecies relations, animal geographies Summary for Lay Audience Bees are the most important pollinators in many parts of the world, and the combination of population declines in wild bees and widespread health problems among honey bees have potentially devastating impacts on both ecosystem health and the agricultural industry. Some scientists, native bee advocates, and beekeepers argue that cities can provide a refuge for bees from pesticide-laden rural landscapes, which has contributed to an increase in urban, hobbyist beekeeping and pollinator gardening. For this research I conducted in-depth interviews with gardeners, urban beekeepers, and bee experts in London, ON and Toronto. I also spent time with beekeepers, gardeners, and bees in beeyards and gardens. I explored how the knowledges and experiences of urban bee advocates – who I call ‘pollinator people’ – shape the ways in which people use spaces that are shared with bees of all species within cities. A central argument of this dissertation is that urban, hobbyist beekeeping and pollinator gardening allow people to engage in ‘playful work’, a form of creative activity with non-human nature that engages with a wide range of senses, evoking feelings of curiosity and wonder. I argue that through playful work pollinator people form transformative relationships of care and consideration with bees, which may extend to other insects. Some native bee advocates argue that urban honey bees may cause some harm to native, wild bees through competition for pollen and nectar and transfer of harmful pathogens. This research suggests that bee-centred beekeeping, in which beekeepers consider the needs of honey bees and use organic, mindful practices, may help to sustain healthier honey bees. Rather than banishing honey bees to rural, agricultural landscapes where they are numerous but sickly, an emphasis should be placed on the creation of landscapes of abundance, full of a wide variety of vegetation and habitat sources, in which healthier honey bees can thrive together with native wild bees. Urban farms, community gardens, and collective beeyards are commonly-shared and potentially democratic spaces in which people can co-create with bees and other insects. iii Acknowledgements London, Ontario, is located on land traditional to the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lunaape, and Attawandaron peoples. The land is governed by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum, pre- Confederation Treaties 2 and 6, and other agreements. I commit to, when appropriate, being part of difficult conversations about how to unsettle ‘Canada’ and to always stand in solidarity with the struggles of Indigenous people in Canada and the world Thank-you to my research participants who were so generous with their time in talking to me about bees, gardening, and/or beekeeping. I am so appreciative of the participants who took me on walks around their enchanting gardens. I want to particularly thank the members of the Toronto Beekeeping Collective who embraced me as a member of the collective during my fieldwork. I enjoyed the hive checks, meetings, and events and learned so much from you all. I want to thank my fellow beekeepers in the London Urban Beekeepers Collective whose love of honey bees was truly infective. Your support of my research work was so heart-warming. Thank-you to the members of the Urban Toronto Beekeepers Association who allowed me to attend meetings and events and were always very interested in my research. Thank-you to Fran Freeman and John Coffman for offering a wonderful beekeeping program at Humber College. Through my participation in the Sustainable Urban Beekeeping Program I became a much better beekeeper. Thank-you to Dan Douma and Luc Peters, not only for their participation in the research project but for providing mentorship to me during my participation with the TBC. I learned so much about beekeeping from you both and that knowledge extended beyond my research into my personal beekeeping. You also raise the loveliest, most gentle honey bees. I want to send heartfelt thanks to Tish Carnat, the gardeners of the Milky Way garden, and Angela Elzengacheng. To the Milky Way gardeners, you are exceptionally generous and welcoming, not only allowing me to spend almost every Tuesday with you in the spring and summer of 2018 but also in offering me delicious produce form the garden and warm cups of tea. From spending time with you, I learned so much about how to live a life grounded in sharing. Thank-you to the staff of Black Creek Community Farm. I know you are all so busy creating one of the most exciting and dynamic urban farms in the country (continent?) and appreciate that you spent time talking with me. I also learned a lot of practical farming information when I did volunteer work at the farm and am so inspired by your work. Thank-you to Shelley Candel, Of iv Bee City Canada. I so appreciate how you welcomed me to stay with you when I conducted fieldwork in Toronto. Your generosity, warmth, and love of bees is so inspiring. Thank-you to my supervisor, Dr. Tony Weis, who encouraged me to apply for the PhD program, took me on as a student, and was a constant source of support and encouragement throughout this entire journey. I would not have done this research on bees if it hadn’t been for your suggestion that I chose a topic about which I am passionate. I am so appreciative of how much you believe in me and my work and I am thankful for you as a mentor and as a friend. Thank-you to the dissertation committee, Dr. Jeff Hopkins, Dr. Adriana Premat, and Dr. Jamie Baxter, whose guidance and encouragement helped to shape the trajectory of my research project. Thank-you to Dr. Carol Hunsberger, the second reader on my dissertation, who provided me with thought-provoking feedback. I also appreciate the writing group you created which is helping me to turn these long dissertation chapters into publishable journal articles. Thank-you to the Geography staff, especially Lori Johnson, who helped me get navigate the overwhelming aspects of grad student life such as applying for scholarships. Your work is appreciated. Thank-you to my partner Sean who is extremely supportive of my PhD work even when it entailed changing the direction of our lives, adjusting our plans, and, at times, being away from home while I conducted my research and attended conferences.