Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing “Sowing Change” series about urban farming.
When Nicole Rivera Hartery first stepped into an insect museum in Philadelphia, she didn't expect her life to change. She had just given birth to her second daughter and found herself mesmerized by an observatory hive on display.
“This was my first interaction with honeybees in that capacity,” Rivera Hartery says. “In talking with one of the workers, I was blown away by everything that they witnessed. That fascination is what eventually drew me to beekeeping.”
That moment planted a seed, she says. Years later, while working a nine-to-five job she no longer felt passionate about, Rivera Hartery decided to take a leap.
Through Rutgers' agriculture program, she gained hands-on experience and mentorship that deepened her fascination with bees and ultimately pointed her toward the educational side of beekeeping.
For the past eight years, Rivera Hartery has worked as a beekeeper and educator in Riverton, N.J.
Rivera Hartery says she looked around the field and quickly noticed the absence of women of color in beekeeping. Only 3% of beekeepers in the U.S. are Black, she says.
She realized: “There are no beekeepers that look like me… At the time, when I Googled it, there was only one — Detroit Hives. Other than that, I didn't know any or see any. So my initial thought was that I need to get into classrooms… It's just about normalizing it.”
She views education as a way to bridge that gap, both to normalize beekeeping in underrepresented communities and to inspire the next generation.
“When you think of what a beekeeper looks like, it's not me,” Rivera Hartery says. “So it's just a matter of exposing that. And I think the more we expose, the more we'll see women of color and men of color doing beekeeping.”
Why Bees Matter
For Rivera Hartery, the work is also about showing how vital pollinators are to life itself.
“With pollinators, they help activate the male and female parts in our floral sources and in our trees,” she says. “We need trees for oxygen, and we need plants for food. Without butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees — our plant life can decline.”
When it comes to agriculture, pollinators are extremely important, Rivera Hartery reiterates.
“Which is why I live in New Jersey, which is a big agricultural state,” she says. “A lot of people don't think of New Jersey as being an agricultural state, but we are, and beekeeping is a huge part of it. That is why you have a lot of farmers partnering up with beekeepers to help pollinate their farms.”
In addition to beekeeping, Rivera Hartery leads hive tours and educates about catastrophic colony losses and the impact it has on our food system and our natural ecosystems in the U.S.
Recognition on PBS Terra
Her passion and mission recently caught the attention of PBS Terra, which featured her in the “Women of the Earth” documentary series.
“It's such an honor just to have been asked to be a part of it… To be in the likes of these women that are doing this incredible work, I feel so honored,” Rivera Hartery says.
She hopes viewers will not only see her passion but also walk away feeling empowered to pursue their own callings — no matter their stage of life.
“No matter what age you are… at 30, 40, 50, 60 — whatever you feel like your heart is leaning to or passion is leaning to, go for it… If it's meant for you, it'll come.” Rivera Hartery says.
Her story is rooted in representation, sustainability and resilience, but at its heart, it's about the lessons bees teach us about community and purpose. And as she shares through her tours, classes and now national recognition, those lessons are meant for everyone.
Stay tuned for Rivera Hartery's story on PBS Terra's “Women of the Earth,” episode 5, airing on Dec. 18.
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