DELANO, Calif. — At North Kern State Prison in Delano, a new buzz is in the air, thanks to a unique program introduced by Luis Cardenas, a retired parole agent turned apiary beekeeper.
The grounds of the prison now host a thriving apiary, a testament to a project that marries rehabilitation with the sweet success of honey production, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.
“Well, we started a few months back when we placed a bee colony here on grounds,” said Cardenas. “We’re providing a lesson plan and hands-on instruction on keeping bees and maintaining a healthy apiary.”
A 2021 Medal of Valor recipient and the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Gold Star, Cardenas has seamlessly transitioned from a career in corrections to nurturing both bees and lives at North Kern serving as the prison’s apiary beekeeper.
An apiary is where beehives are kept, a place that now serves as a classroom for the inmates at North Kern, according to CDCR. The program involves everything from bee care to the critical process of harvesting honey, ensuring the health of both the bees and their environment.
The initiation into the world of beekeeping begins with overcoming fear, as Cardenas pointed out.
“Everybody is a little apprehensive about being around bees,” he told CDCR. “Once you feel comfortable in the bee suit and you actually pick up a frame that has 2,000 bees on it, you feel the intensity of the bees flying around you, it can actually be kind of calming.”
This initiative, still in its early stages, is already showing promising results. Issac, one of the incarcerated participants and a firefighter by training, sees beekeeping as more than just an activity.
“We asked if we’d like to volunteer and get a program started for the bee program,” Issac said. “It’s something I was interested in because it would be a hobby for me and my grandkids upon release.”
Justin, another participant, emphasized the program’s deeper significance.
“I feel it’s very important to the institution because we’ve made some of the worst mistakes of our lives and that’s why we find ourselves here,” Justin, another incarcerated firefighter, told CDCR. “It’s also important to understand we don’t have to be defined by the worst things we’ve ever done. So, by having programs like this, it presents an opportunity for us to change our own lives.”
The success of the program is also marked by its recognition at the local level. Cardenas entered a few jars of honey at the Kern County State Fair, earning first place.
“The goal is to have 20 hives by the end of next summer and maybe even spreading it out to other institutions,” he said.
In a 2022 interview with CDCR, before he retired, Cardenas said beekeeping helped him balance work and life.
“After 20 years in CDCR and over 20 years in the military, I have found good ways to decompress. I also help others see the need for activity outside of the office and not related to work,” Cardenas said.
