Student or Group Info
Name(s): Emma Corinne Stewart
Term: Spring 2021
Credits: 10
Title of ILC or Group Project: Bee Habitat and the Terroir of Honey
Field Supervisor
Field supervisor: Steve Scheuerell
Title: Faculty
Organization: TESC
Subcontractor
Name: Sarah Williams
Title: Faculty
Organization: TESC
Program of Project Description
Original Narrative:
I will study bees and their ecological needs and services, with an emphasis on native bees to the South Puget Sound region. I will apply that learning by assessing the pollinator habitat on and around the Organic Farm. I will also explore the human relationship with bees and their honey via research and sensory analysis.
Updated version:
In this in-program independent study contract, I studied native bees and their ecological needs and pollination services, with an emphasis on those native to the South Salish Sea region. I applied that learning by assessing the pollinator habitat on and around the campus Organic Farm. I made small improvements to the habitat. I also explored the human relationship with bees and their honey via social studies and honey bee biology as well as sensory analysis. I practiced written and visual communication by creating educational posts about native bees, honey bees, and related topics.
| Learning objective | Activity | Deliverable |
| Learn the natural history of native pollinators essential to agriculture in the pacific northwest, their ecological needs and services, and strategies for improving pollinator habitat on a farm. | Research via film and text media, practice and document field plant and insect identification, find examples of farmers implementing systems that improve pollinator habitat, read The Bee: a Natural History by Noah Wilson-Rich, profile several bees native to western washington (genus- or species-specific), along with their specific nesting and foraging needs. | Learning will be documented on wordpress blog posts weekly in art and writing. Learning will also be reflected in my report on the Organic Farm’s native bee pollinator habitat. |
| Practice applying my learning by assessing the TESC Organic Farm’s pollinator habitat. | Assess the pollinator habitat at the organic farm, using the form titled “Native Bee Conservation, Pollinator Habitat Assessment Form and Guide: Farms and Agricultural Landscapes” from the Xerces Society as an outline. Weekly visits on Tuesday and/or Thursday will include surveying the surrounding forest and accessible land, surveying the farm itself, and speaking with faculty about practices used. Establish forage plants, along with other habitat amendments, for native bees in the community garden. | Weekly documentation on a blog post and I’ll record and summarize the data in a report, including an outline of the next steps for anyone who is interested in carrying on the work over future seasons. |
| Learn about the production of honey, how honey’s flavor is assessed and expressed, and the culinary and medicinal uses of honey. | Follow sensory analysis methodology in The Honey Connoisseur to taste honey varietals; cook with honey, using The Honey Connoisseur by Marchese and Flottum and Spoonfuls of Honey by Hattie Ellis; research various ways honey is produced, processed, selected, assessed, marketed, and enjoyed. | Learning will be documented on a wordpress blog post weekly in images, writing, and illustrations. |
Evaluation of Work
- Narrative evaluation from sponsor
- Narrative self-evaluation from student
- Week 10 presentation
- Mid-quarter self eval
- WordPress ePortfolio