About "BeeCamp Hachimitsu"
"BeeCamp Hachimitsu" began in the spring of 2023 when Maria and Daniel moved from the U.S. to Matsuyama, Shikoku, and started beekeeping with the support of Shizen Saibai Izumi Farm, a farm in Hojo and Nishidani that practices fertilizer-free and pesticide-free natural farming.
In the spring of 2024, they established a full-scale base in Horie, Matsuyama. This is truly the realization of their dream—a lifestyle community like a utopia. Together with everyone, we enjoy beekeeping in nature while learning about the vital role and ecology of honeybees, aiming for a healthy and delicious way of living. We are also creating a place where people can connect, build relationships with local residents and new friends, and share enriching experiences.
BeeCamp Hachimitsu supports those who are drawn to rural lifestyles, current farmers, and companions of all generations.
We hope that our activities can contribute positively to everyone's lifestyle.
The mission of "BeeCamp Hachimitsu"
Our mission is to promote sustainable honey made with care and respect, that inspires to get involved, adopt, nurture, and support natural and healthy lifestyles.
Why beekeeping?
Western honeybees play an essential role in food production here in Japan as well, but their numbers are declining due to pesticides and mites. Japan’s native honeybees are also decreasing year by year.
In an environment where bees cannot survive, it is difficult to imagine a truly healthy diet for humans, either. Through beekeeping, we hope to help more people understand the important role that bees play in our lives. At the same time, we aim to make Japan’s rural landscapes safer, richer, and more sustainable for the future.
The future vision of "BeeCamp Hachimitsu"
As early as possible, "BeeCamp Hachimitsu" aims to be a place where you can not only enjoy taking care of bees but also engage in various activities.
For example:
Early morning yoga, then breakfast. Then it's time to tend to the bees, organic farming in the fields, caring for the healing cows (for milk) and goats (responsible for grass cutting), and looking after the chickens responsible for laying eggs. Occasionally, we make ghee or go for a walk in the mountains to gather bamboo shoots or wild vegetables, or tend to shiitake mushrooms. For lunch, we have onigiri in the fields. In the early afternoon, we quit and get into a sauna session. In the evening, we cook with the harvested herbs and vegetables or bake handmade pizzas in the oven. After dinner, we gather around a campfire for music. It's also possible to watch movies outdoors or make mead cocktails. It would be great if we could provide tent camping spaces as well.
We want to create a place where people from all generations, with diverse experiences and backgrounds from around the world, can connect by sharing the experience of building such a space together. Would you like to join us?
BeeCamp Founding Members
Maria
Maria is an American engineer of Venezuelan descent, with a graduate degree from the University of Michigan. She met Daniel in Los Angeles and they initially lived near Nagoya for about a year after getting married. They later relocated to Michigan. Maria has been actively involved in promoting an exchange student program between the local middle school and Nagahama City. She has also served as the chairperson of the Board of Education and was an active member of the Rotary Club during their four-year stay in the UK.
Daniel
Daniel, Japanese born in the US and grew up in Nagoya, graduated from Rikkyo University and Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management MBA program. He worked for a Toyota-affiliated company and was assigned to the states for a plant start-up project, then he had a long career in business development and sales roles at a US automotive company.
In Matsuyama
In February 2023 Maria and Daniel left Detroit and returned to Japan after 34 years. They settled in Matsuyama, Shikoku, a completely new place where they had no acquaintances or relatives except “Ohenro” walking through Ehime. However, as they gradually found their place in the community, they encountered amazing individuals and kickstarted BeeCamp Hachimitsu. They are enjoying every day of their new life.
Their two wonderful grown up children are thriving in Colorado and California.