World · North America · 11 hrs ago
Former journalist finds a slower life running a bee farm in British Columbia
Jeff Lee left journalism and bought a bee farm with his wife, Amanda, after a career as an investigative reporter in Vancouver.
The couple moved about 300 miles east to rural British Columbia when Lee was 60.
Lee had worked in journalism since he was 21, often under the pressure of daily deadlines.
Beekeeping taught him to slow down because rushing around the hives led to stings.
He said the calmer pace also improved his writing and made him a better person.
Cuts at his newspaper prompted him to rethink his life, and he took about six months to ask for redundancy.
He now runs the farm with Amanda, turning a longtime interest in bees into a new way of life.
Jeff Lee left a fast-paced journalism career and moved with his wife, Amanda, to rural British Columbia to run a bee farm.
He became interested in beekeeping in his late 50s and first kept two hives in the couple’s back yard.
Lee says working with bees taught him to slow down and improved his writing and well-being.
He had worked as a journalist since age 21, including as an investigative reporter at the Vancouver Sun.
He began considering a career change after cuts followed the takeover of the Sun’s parent company.
- Who
- Jeff Lee, a former journalist, and his wife, Amanda.
- What
- They moved to rural British Columbia to buy and run a bee farm.
- When
- They moved when Lee was 60. He became interested in beekeeping in his late 50s.
- Where
- Rural British Columbia, about 300 miles east of Vancouver.
- Why
- Lee was rethinking his life after workplace cuts and wanted a more independent life. He says beekeeping taught him to slow down.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lee became interested in beekeeping after his wife took part in a “beard of bees” event in Vancouver.
Lee and Amanda put two hives in their back yard.
Cuts followed and Lee began to rethink his life.
Lee requested redundancy.
Lee and Amanda moved about 300 miles east to rural British Columbia to buy a bee farm.
- Former career
- Investigative reporter at the Vancouver Sun
- Journalism career began
- Age 21
- First hives
- Two, in the couple’s back yard
- Move
- About 300 miles east from Vancouver
- New home
- Rural British Columbia
- Age at move
- 60
What people are saying
You have to slow down. Work with the bees. Listen to the bees.
By the end of the weekend, I was much calmer. My writing was better. I was a better human being.
Marking time is a very bad way to live.