In 2014, as part of my graduate studies at the University of Michigan, I worked with a group of undergraduates in a community-oriented sustainability project intended to support the Maasai community of Lesoit, Tazania. Our goal was to design and build a high efficiency wood burning stove, also known as a “Rocket Stove,” to help mitigate some of the environmental issues tied to more traditional methods of cooking.
In addition, I was individually solicited to assist a burgeoning beekeeping program in the community that is intended to provide sustainable income for the elderly, handicapped, and widowed members of the community. It was my task to demonstrate effective beekeeping techniques, and to provide insights into the processing and use of hive products.