KALW Audio Academy’s Charlotte Silver Shares the Sound of Bees Buzzing in Visitacion Valley next to Freeway 101

By Martha Sessums and Charlotte Silver

Who knew that down the hill from KALW’s radio station on San Bruno Avenue is The Bee Farm? Or that it was located parallel to the 101 freeway by the Clear Channel billboard? Audio Academy student Charlotte Silver did, and she aired her story about urban bee colonies on Crosscurrents Thursday, January 16.

“It’s part of our series telling sound rich stories of Bay Area places, the first major assignment for Audio Academy students,” said Holly Kernan, KALW News Director. “Listen in to hear the sweet sounds of bees and how endangered bees are helping to keep San Francisco green, while being threatened by the potential sting of new parking lots.”

Making a home for bees by the freeway

Next time you drive past the 3rd Street exit, look west and think of the bees that are so small yet mighty and do so much for us in terms of pollinating food and providing lovely honey. It is one of our modern quandaries of balancing ancient benefits with current requirements. Thank you, Charlotte, for this great story that will make listeners stop and think.

San Francisco Bee-Cause operates The Bee Farm.