Characters
Queen of the Sun follows inspiring beekeepers from all around the globe as they keep bees using natural and biodynamic methods. From Gunther Hauk in the United States to Massimo Carpinteri in Italy, each has unique philosophical and spiritual insights into their bees and is striving to keep their bees safe from pesticides and other causes behind Colony Collapse Disorder. If you are interested in contacting a character for interview regarding Queen of the Sun, please contact us here.
Gunther Hauk
Biodynamic Beekeeper & Farmer
Gunther Hauk (The Honeybee Crisis: An Opportunity to Transform Destructive Agricultural Practices and Real Food for Thought and Stomach: An Introduction to Biodynamic Agriculture) is one of the central inspiring figures in Queen of the Sun. Gunther was a Waldorf teacher for 23 years and was co-founder of Spikenard Farm in 2006 and the Pfeiffer Center in more
Michael Pollan
Author “Omnivore’s Dilemma”
For the past twenty-five years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment. He is the author of four New York Times bestsellers. The Omnivore’s Dilemma was named one of the ten best books of 2006 more
Vandana Shiva
Physicist
“Shiva … has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of the ordinary people of India … her fierce intellect and her disarmingly friendly, accessible manner have made her a valuable advocate for people all over the developing world.” — Ms. Magazine
Hugh Wilson
Botanist, Hinewai Reserve
Hugh Wilson is the Manager of Hinewai Reserve, a private nature reserve on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. He hand-writes and illustrates a newsletter about the reserve, Pīpipi, which the Trust publishes several times a year.
David Heaf
Biochemist and Biodynamic Beekeeper
Lured into beekeeping in 2003, when he gave a talk on genetically modified organisms to a local beekeepers’ association, David soon looked into more bee-appropriate ways of keeping bees. After being introduced by Johannes Wirz to Émile Warré’s natural comb hive in 2006, David and his wife translated Warré’s L’Apiculture Pour Tous and published it as Beekeeping more
Scott Black
Biologist, Xerces Society
Scott Hoffman Black is executive director of the Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the diversity of life through the conservation of invertebrates. www.xerces.org
Michael Thiele
Biodynamic Beekeeper, Melissa Garden
Michael grew up on a farm in a tiny village in central Germany. He has been deeply influenced by the German biodynamic beekeeping movement and now teaches classes on natural and holistic beekeeping in the United States.
He lived and practiced for many years at San Francisco Zen Center: Zen and tended the bees at Green Gulch more
May Berenbaum
Entomologist
May Berenbaum is an entomologist and professor at the University of Illinois. May speaks in Queen of the Sun about the effects of pesticides on honeybees and also of the fear people have of bee stings. May has been a spokesperson for raising awareness of Colony Collapse Disorder, having appeared before Congress to present information on the crisis. She more
Carlo Petrini
President, Slow Food International
Carlo Petrini is the President and Founder of the International Slow Food Movement.
Massimo Carpinteri
Natural Beekeeper Check back soon for a complete biography.
Jacqueline Freeman
Biodynamic Beekeeper Jacqueline Freeman is a Biodynamic Beekeeper and Farmer and owner of Friendly Haven Rise Farm in Venersborg, Washington. She teaches natural beekeeping classes titled “Bees: The Other Way” and is a community swarm-rescuer.
www.friendlyhaven.com
Johannes Wirz
Molecular Biologist, Goetheanum Johannes is a molecular biologist on the staff of the Research Laboratory at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. His current research projects include an effort to develop criteria for beekeeping that do not include chemical attacks against the varroa mite, which is proving so devastating to honey bees worldwide. He is also working on a qualitative assessment more
Colin Fleay
Check back soon for a complete biography.
Warren Thompson
Organic Beekeeper Warren lives in Hanmer, New Zealand with his wife and three daughters. All of them are beekeepers.
Ron Breland
Organic Beekeeper
Ron Breland is a beekeeper and teacher and has developed a special dodecahedron shaped hive. He lives with his wife in West Nyack, NY.
