Did you know that Morgan Freeman is at one with the bees?
That’s right; Morgan Freeman isn’t just an actor with one of the most recognisable voices in Hollywood history.
As well as being a director and philanthropist, he is also a beekeeper. He started his journey to help repopulate the world with bees back in 2014 when he converted his 124-acre ranch in Mississippi into a haven for bees.
The population of the honeybee – a species whose numbers are dwindling at a swift pace over the years
Over the past 50 years, the honeybee population has been rapidly dropping at a concerning rate. Stirred by this realization, the Million Dollar Baby actor stepped in, determined to help do something about it.
His answer was to import 26 beehives from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to his 124-acre ranch in Mississippi. With the help of his gardeners, he has planted many bee-friendly plants such as lavender, clover, and magnolia trees.
Freeman has stated that he was not interested in harvesting the bees for honey; he has only imported them to help repopulate this essential species.
No need for a beekeeper suit – the Oscar-winning star claims to be at one with the bees
In a conversation with Jimmy Fallon in 2014, the now 85-year-old actor explained how he feeds the bees a mixture of sugar and water. Due to the Arkansas bees being out of their natural habitat, they are vulnerable because they do not know where their food is.
Hence, Freeman took it upon himself to care for his new bee family. He quickly found out, however, that feeding the bees requires no need for a beekeeper suit, allowing him to imprint on the bees and build a relationship with them.
When Fallon baulked at the actor, exclaiming, “That’s a rookie mistake; you’re gonna get stung”, Freeman merely laughed and shrugged him off. Freeman says beekeeper suits are only “for people who can’t resonate” with the bees.
Given the fact it’s nearly been ten years since his foray into beekeeping without any reports of significant bee attacks, we think Fallon has been proven wrong.
The importance of saving the honeybee – an important species for our planet
Further on in The Tonight Show, Freeman said, “There is a concerted effort for bringing bees back onto the planet. We do not realize that they are the foundation”.
Indeed, significant predictions have indicated that the drop in bee population means doom for agricultural industries and the environment.
The population decline can undoubtedly be attributed to the spreading of pesticides which have grown in popularity in modern times.
It is a relief to learn that at least one ranch in Mississippi is dedicated to the safekeeping of these beautiful winged creatures.