Meet the award‑winning North Kern beekeepers

October 9, 2024

Incarcerated participants are working toward their future in the new beekeeping program at North Kern State Prison.

Incarcerated beekeepers are learning valuable skills through a new program at North Kern State Prison in Delano.

“Well, we started a few months back when we placed a bee colony here on grounds,” said Luis Cardenas, North Kern State Prison’s Apiary Beekeeper. He’s also a retired parole agent. “We’re providing a lesson plan and hands-on instruction on keeping bees and maintaining a healthy apiary.”

What is an apiary? It’s simply a place where beehives are kept, especially those used for honey production.

Harvesting honey from the apiary is all part of making sure the bee colony is healthy and thriving.

Christopher Medina, TV specialist with the Office of Public and Employee Communications, recently visited the program as participants harvested honey from five of the 10 beehives on site.

Watch his video:

Cardenas said at first, people are usually nervous around the hives.

“Everybody is a little apprehensive about being around bees,” he said. “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.”

Learning from bees

Bees crawl around a box at the prison. — There are currently 10 hives at North Kern.

Beekeepers pull a hive from a box. — There are currently 10 hives at North Kern.

The beekeeping program is in its infancy at the institution but it’s already seeing results.

“It’s something I was interested in because it would be a hobby for me and my grandkids upon release.”
Issac, incarcerated beekeeping student

“We asked if we’d like to volunteer and get a program started for the bee program,” said Issac, an incarcerated firefighter. “It’s something I was interested in because it would be a hobby for me and my grandkids upon release.”

Issac said stepping outside of his comfort zone was challenging but now he finds it relaxing.

“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,” said Justin, another incarcerated firefighter. “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.”

North Kern beekeepers are building futures

Photo of honey with a blue ribbon. — North Kern honey took a first-place blue ribbon at the county fair.

Incarcerated students harvest honey at the prison. — North Kern honey took a first-place blue ribbon at the county fair.

According to Justin, learning how to harvest honey and care for bees gives the participants another option for reentry.

“(This program) provides opportunities for us when we get out to pursue an entrepreneurial endeavor,” he explained.

Cardenas said the participants are excited to learn.

“They are talking to their families about it because we’re the only program in the area where students are working with live bees,” he said.

Cardenas entered a few jars of the honey in the Kern County Fair, resulting in a first-place win.

“The goal is to have 20 hives be the end of next summer and maybe even spreading it out to other institutions,” he said.

Who is Luis Cardenas?

Cardenas is a 2021 Medal of Valor recipient, retired parole agent, and the 2022 recipient of the Governor’s Gold Star.

Inside CDCR caught up with Cardenas in 2022 to discuss his beekeeping hobby.

Video and photos by Christopher Medina, TV Specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications

Meet the award‑winning North Kern beekeepers

Learning from bees

North Kern beekeepers are building futures

Who is Luis Cardenas?

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