Beekeeper Shanna Rose, who works hives on the island of Hawaii as well as southern Oregon, does not wear gloves or protective clothing other than a hat and veil when working with her bees.
“I feel that gloves make you clumsy around delicate bees, so they sting more and become more agitated. It seems right to be vulnerable to the bees — it keeps you very present. Without gloves I am sensitive to the bees’ every vibration, and, as I prefer not to be stung, I move slowly and only do the bare minimum, usually only harvesting honeycombs. I rarely have reason to open the brood nest. If the bees are agitated, I might use a little smoke that I left drift in or close up the hive and visit another day.”