Rachel Weston recalls when her orchardist husband Stuart came home from work a few years ago and asked her if she knew where bumblebees lived. “A hive?” I suggested, and he said, ‘No, they live underground.’”
That fun fact piqued Rachel’s curiosity and led her to investigate further.
“I then learned that native bumblebees go through metamorphosis like butterflies, they hibernate like bears and all tomatoes commercially grown in New Zealand are pollinated by bumblebees!”
Rachel was so entranced, she decided to write a book. She set to work on Bumblebees Have Smelly Feet, an illustrated story for young readers.
“While I was working on that first book, taking photos of bumblebees during pollination on our kiwifruit orchard, where we live in Te Puna in the Bay of Plenty, I noticed some tiny black bees. But I wasn’t sure what they were. I called Dr Barry Donovan, a bee expert who’s sadly since passed away, and he told me they were native bees.”
Astonished that our precious native bees – or ngāro huruhuru – had been flying under the radar, Rachel set about writing another book to celebrate those precious creatures. The result is Kiwi Bees Have Tiny Knees and it is full of fascinating facts, incredible photographs and bold illustrations. It even has QR codes to link readers to clips of busy buzzy bees.
Rachel tells, “What I didn’t understand was how I got to 50, having grown up in Northland, where I spent lots of time at the beach and in the bush, and I didn’t know anything about our native bees. I wasn’t alone either, which is why I decided to start writing, to offer readers of all ages a glimpse into the magical world of bees.”
As a newbie author, Rachel admits self-publishing has been a steep learning curve. The former travel agent’s glad to be able to draw on her skills that were honed while educating her three creative kids.
“When we lived in the Waikato, Veronica, now 24, Holly, 22, and Connor, 17, were all home-schooled. For 10 years, we were reading, writing and making things together. I think I learned as much as them,” she shares.
Rachel will be eternally grateful to her family for all their support. “Stuart’s been fantastic. Without him, I’d never have got started. The children also offer honest criticism and with their different personalities, they each bring a fresh perspective. They’ve also learned that writing a book is a lot of work and definitely not a nine-to-five job!”
Rachel’s writing journey has seen her connect with knowledgeable people from across New Zealand.
“People have introduced me to Te Papa’s entomology department and Landcare Research,” she explains. “Throughout the process, I’ve become friends with bee researchers up and down the country, who’ve let me use their stunning photographs.
“I’ve loved how everything has come together so beautifully. But the scientists are the ones who’ve spent years researching – I’m just a conduit.”
One of the many things that makes Rachel’s work special, is that she writes in a state of wonder.
“I love being able to bring these amazing insects into the light. When children learn how our native bees are such crucial pollinators for native trees and plants, they start their own connection with the environment,” she enthuses.
Which is why Rachel tries to do most of her school visits during late spring and summer. That’s when bees are at their busiest.
“We can’t care for what we don’t know about. So, I love going outside with students and seeing them take notice,” she says. “I also explain that caring for bees is something we can all do. Whether we plant flowering natives like hebes and pōhutukawa, or we refrain from spraying. We could even just let some garden areas be messy.”
With her new career taking flight, Rachel certainly isn’t taking any of it for granted.
“Not everybody has the opportunity to work from home or be an at-home mum, doing something they love. I’m so thankful for these privileges,” she says.
“I can wake in the morning and take my gorgeous dogs for a walk. I can breath and pause before I start my writing day, which is all about sharing my new-found love of bees through children’s books.”
Bumblebee by Rachel Weston is on shelves at Paper Plus and other book retailers now.
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