Progress 09/15/23 to 09/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience are Military Veterans and their family members that are interested in expanding their knowledge and skill sets in the field of beekeeping, whether to start a beekeeping business or to add beekeeping to their existing agricultural enterprises. Our project also supports active duty military; and Veteran family members, dependents, caregiver, and community supporters. In particular, we aim to focus more on Veteran populations that are facing challenges such as those navigating physical or mental health challenges, homelessness or unemployment, or are recently transitioning out of the military. Our region for this project covers Western Washington, while our in-person events and workshops primarily cover local communities in our surrounding counties, including Thurston, Pierce, Lewis, Mason, and Grays Harbor counties. Joint Base Lewis McChord, the 4th largest military base in the US, is located within our region. More than 137,000 Veterans make up 10% of our region's population, almost double the ratio of the nation. With large numbers of military personnel leaving active service and looking for new career pathways, there are opportunities in agriculture and natural resources to provide livelihoods for Veterans and their families, increase local food production, preserve farmland, and heal self, the land, and build community. Changes/Problems: Through this project, we are able to provide full reimbursement for the beginning and apprentice beekeeping certification courses. However, we continue to find resistance from many of our Veteran participants to accept or request reimbursements for their courses. With the WASBA database nearly ready for release in early 2025, and by continuing to connect with more of the local beekeeping clubs in Western Washington, we hope to make it easier for both the participants and facilitators of the WASBA certification courses to smooth out the reimbursement process. This will also help us to gather more accurate data on the number of Veterans in each course, which continues to be a challenge. We would like to implement a clearer process and communication with the organizers and instructors of WASBA certification courses and workshops on how to collect and share data on Veterans participating in certification courses and in sharing and gathering survey data. Because each WASBA club/instructor works independently, it has been challenging to get consistent data to report for this project. We would like to facilitate more workshops ourselves at our apiary sites and distribute our own surveys to mitigate this issue. We have found it challenging this year getting turnout for our in-person workshops and events. Because our project covers all of Western Washington state, it is hard to find a central location for in-person events that many or all of our cohort members can attend. Especially after the pandemic, we have noticed that many folks have become accustomed to and prefer online or hybrid events. In 2025, we will be organizing more virtual or hybrid opportunities for our cohort members to learn and connect. Since engaging more with groups of Veterans without previous beekeeping experience, such as hosting folks from the American Lake HERO (Homeless Engagement and Recovery Opportunities) program or the Women Veteran farmers group, we have been surprised by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants who want to learn more about or even start beekeeping after working with bees for the first time. We hope to continue to work with these two programs in 2025 and develop more opportunities for Veterans to "try on" beekeeping at our apiary sites. We would like to work closer with The Evergreen State College, a liberal arts college in Olympia with many Weteran students and an organic farm and agricultural program. We would like to reevaluate our partner organizations and levels of responsibility given to each organization. Since our partner organizations are located in different areas of the state, and each organization has limited capacity due to staffing, it has been difficult at times to coordinate aspects of the project. We have found it to be more productive at times to collaborate with our regional and local partners. This also allows for us to meet potential program participants in person and build relationships in a more intentional way. We would like to focus more on the social connectedness aspects of this project, as this directly relates to well-being, safety, stability, and ultimately mastery of skills. We would like to collaborate more with the WDVA as they offer cultural competency and suicide prevention trainings along with other Veteran resources. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to the training opportunities mentioned above, we provide ourVeteran beekeepers access and financial support to take advantage of other opportunities for training and professional development. There are ongoing opportunities for free enrollment in: Micro Loan Program - Enterprise for Equity Money 101 - Enterprise for Equity Dependable Strengths - Enterprise for Equity Business Readiness workshops - Enterprise for Equity Business Planning Program - Enterprise for Equity Whole Farm Planning - WSU Cultivating Success Agricultural Entrepreneurship - WSU Cultivating Success Advanced Financial Management - WSU Cultivating Success Whole Farm Planning - WSU Southwest Washington Grazing School- WSU Extension Ag Entrepreneurship - WSU Gardening workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Farming workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Habitat Stewardship workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Land Management workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Conservation Planning and Assistance - Thurston Conservation District Beginning Beekeeper Certification - WASBA Apprentice Beekeeper Certification - WASBA Journeyman Beekeeper Certification - WASBA Master Beekeeper Certification - WASBA The Pollinator Knowledge and Fun Fest - WASBA Pacific Northwest Beekeeping Conference - WASBA We have offered 7 "seasonally appropriate" beekeeping workshops to help beekeepers of all skill levels better keep bees here in Western Washington. Workshop topics included: Hive Checks, Splitting Hives, Queen Care, Catching and Caring for Swarms, Integrated Pest Management, and Feeding and Preparing for Winter. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Marketing and outreach to disseminate information about Healing Through Hives to our target audience and the greater community was done both in-person and through various online means. GRuB's Veteran Program presented to over 100 community members about Healing Through Hives at several GRuB events and dinners, WASBA events, and presentations to local beekeeping associations. Presentations and hand-outs were offered to over a dozen Veteran farmers at our June Solstice event at the Orting Veterans Farm. Staff tabled and disseminated Healing Through Hives (HTH) information at WASBA's Pollinator Fest in July 2024 and Pacific Northwest Beekeeping Conference in October 2024; the BFRDP Project Director`s Conference in October 2024; and the Farmer Veteran Coalition 10th annual FVC Stakeholders Conference in October 2024. Partners, such as the WA-Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-WA), Thurston Conservation District (TCD), Washington State University (WSU), Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA), Enterprise 4 Equity (E4E) and others helped spread the word to their audiences through their websites, social media, and newsletters. We submit a bi-monthly article about project updates to WASBA, which they integrate into their bi-monthly newsletter. HTH results and events have also been promoted on GRuB's website and via GRuB's social media and e-News platforms. HTH is also highlighted on the FVC-WA website and WASBA website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan on better communication and coordination through project partners in an effort to bridge any potential gaps as we move into the 2025 beekeeping season. Using feedback contained in our end of season survey, along with face to face assessments, we will adapt annual work plans and redistribute any necessary resources to accomplish the project deliverables and best support its cohort of military Veteran participants. We would like to implement a clearer process and communication with the organizers and instructors of WASBA certification courses and workshops on how to collect and share data on Veterans participating in certification courses and in sharing and gathering survey data. Because each WASBA club/instructor works independently, it has been challenging to get consistent evaluation data to report for this project. We also plan on facilitating more workshops ourselves at our apiary sites and distributing our own surveys to mitigate this issue. We plan to improve our outreach process for our workshops and events. In 2025, we hope to advertise to a wider audience by utilizing the marketing and outreach strategies of our collaborating partners and plan more ahead of time to get a better turnout. After our last reporting period, we had planned on creating a state-wide Veterans beekeepers club. After hearing feedback from more Veteran beekeepers and farmers, we are now hoping to instead focus on helping create a state-wide Veteran Beekeepers co-operative, as a way to empower and boost the competitiveness of both big and small Veteran-owned beekeeping businesses in Washington state. We would like to expand our apiary sites and network of mentors to cover more of Western Washington, especially in more rural areas where there are fewer resources available for Veteran beekeepers. We plan on establishing at least two more Veteran community apiary sites in 2025: Haki Farm in Lacey, WA, which is home to a large Veteran and active duty military population due to its proximity to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military base. Roots Farm in Poulsbo, WA, located on the Olympic Peninsula Growing Veterans farm in Lynden, WA in the northwestern part of Washington state
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Beekeeping Pathways and Training WASBAworked with Washington State University (WSU) to develop and certify Journeyman and Master beekeeping certification courses, which was completed in early 2024.WASBA's Journeyman course began in March 2024 and its inaugural Master level beekeeping certification course began in August 2024. administered 2 "Beginning Beekeeper" courses in 2023 and 3 "Beginning Beekeeper" courses in 2024. We certified and reimbursed a total of 7 military veterans in 2024. administered 1 "Apprentice Beekeeper" course in 2023 and 2 "Apprentice Beekeeper" courses in 2024. We certified and reimbursed a total of 8 military veterans in 2024. offered 1 Journeyman course in the spring of 2024. We certified and reimbursed a total of 2 military veterans in 2024. Worked with potential beekeepers and farmers to develop plans for success based on their individual goals. To date, we have met one-on-one with and helped connect 53 military beekeepers and farmers to a multitude of resources statewide helping them to develop and/or refine their farm and business plan(s) and enhance conservation practices on their land. Goal 2:Community Apiaries We share the Community Apiary Model and tools broadly, both within beekeeping communities, and with other enterprises. In 2023, we developed a (DRAFT) HTH WA State Apiary Site Field Manual as well as resource list available on the Washington Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-WA) website. We will finalize this field manual in 2024 and it will help guide the managers of all Healing Through Hives community apiary sites. 2023: The Veterans Ecological Trades Collective (VETC) was home to our first (8 hive) community apiary supporting community members throughout south Thurston and north Lewis counties.The WA State Soldiers Home was home to our second (8 hive) Healing Through Hives community apiary. This apiary supports beekeepers throughout Thurston and Pierce counties. We also partnered with The Washington State Governor's Mansion as a site for workshops and events for program participants on the Capitol campus in Olympia, WA. .Current apiaries are at GRuB and the Orting Veterans Farm (WA State Soldiers Home). GRuB's community apiary site was established this year. We have 4 hives and this site is meant to be a model for beginner/hobbyist beekeepers. It replaced the apiary site planned to be installed at the Haki Collective Farm in 2024, because they were not ready. Haki will become an apiary site in 2025. The Veterans Ecological Trades Collective (VETC) was an apiary site in 2023. However, due to a lack of resources, they are closing as an organization. Orting Veterans Farm - This year, we moved the apiary to a more appropriate location. Their farm manager serves as a beekeeping and farming mentor to the Veteran farmers leasing land at this incubator farm and has held 2 beekeeping workshops at the site this year. In 2025, we will be adding community apiaries at the Haki Farmers Collective in Lacey, WA. Haki is a small urban farm. The collective consists of BIPOC farmers in Western Washington. Lacey is also home to a large population of Active Duty Military members and Veterans due to its proximity to the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military base. In 2025, we will be establishing an apiary site at the Growing Veterans site in Lynden, WA. Growing Veterans tackles the suicide epidemic by combining agriculture with Veteran peer-support and community engagement. In 2025, we may also establish an apiary site at Roots Farm in Poulsbo, WA. Roots Farm is Veteran-owned and hosts positions for Veteran Conservation Corps interns. The intern they have for 2025 is interested in beekeeping. Many of our Veterans live on the Olympic Peninsula, and an apiary site closer to those counties would provide beekeeping access to those Veterans who are unable to travel to Thurston County. Goal 3: Veteran Mentoring GRuB's Veteran Project Coordinator provided direct mentorship and one-on-one support to 53Veteran beginning beekeepers in 2024. Alan Woods and other beekeeping instructors through WASBA provided mentorship and guidance to at least 10 Military Veterans in 2024 through beginning, apprentice, and journeyman certification courses and hands-on workshops. One of WASBA's journeyman students, Dr. David Muehleisen, became a mentor at GRuB's new apiary site this year. With the guidance of Dr. David Muehleisen, GRuB's Veteran Program team hosted 3 in-person beekeeping workshops, attended by 7 beginning-apprentice Veteran beekeepers. The farm manager of the Orting Veterans Farm, Carrie Little, managed the hives at our apiary site in Orting, WA, and helped mentor the Veteran beekeepers throughout the year. Through attending conferences and speaking at local beekeeping clubs this year, GRuB's Veteran Program team was able to build a more robust network of mentors throughout the state. Our Veteran Project Coordinator is in the process of creating a map of interested beekeeping mentors so that we can best match beginning beekeepers with appropriate mentors that are in their area. Mentors have been supported with stipends and are invited to attend training and networking events. In addition, dozens of other Veterans were indirectly supported through the resources made available and accessible through the WA-Farmer Veteran Coalition (WA-FVC) and WASBA websites. In 2024, GRuB and WASBA were able to add a "Veterans" section to the WASBA website that links to the Healing Through Hives interest forms housed on the WA-FVC website. Through both tools, we have been able to connect with more potential and current beginning farmers and beekeepers looking for support and to many experienced Veteran and civilian beekeepers interested in mentoring Veteran beginning beekeepers. By building our network of mentors, we have been able to match our beginning beekeeping cohorts members to mentors that are not only accessible due to proximity but also have similar interests and specializations. For example, one of our cohort members is a college student studying entomology and apiology and is passionate about the science and biology of bees. We were able to connect him to a mentor with a scientific background in entomology. Other cohort members are more interested in the commercial and business aspect of beekeeping, and we would connect them with a mentor who is a successful commercial beekeeper, such as Alan Woods. Here are a few of the beekeeping mentors that are instrumental in the success of the Healing Through Hives beekeeping program: Alan Woods - President of the Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA), US Army Veteran, Master beekeeper, HTH mentor, and project partner. Ellen Miller - Vice President of WASBA, Journeyman certified beekeeper currently enrolled in a Master Beekeeping program, HTH mentor, and project partner Eli Ocheltree - President of the SnoKing Beekeepers Association, Master Beekeeper, leads virtual certification courses in Snohomish and King counties in WA state, teacher and mentor Dr. David Muehleisen - Retired Emeritus Member of the Faculty at Evergreen State College, where he taught beekeeping in the Organic Farm program. Journeyman certified beekeeper currently enrolled in a Master Beekeeping program, Veteran spouse, mentor at GRuB's apiary site Carrie Little - Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA) Orting Veterans Farm and apiary manager, Journeyman certified beekeeper, HTH mentor and Orting apiary manager Grant Weber - President of the Washington Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-WA), Apprentice certified beekeeper, co-founder of Vets on the Farm in Spokane, WA, US Air Force veteran, HTH project partner.
Publications
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Progress 09/15/22 to 09/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience are Military Veterans and first responders that are interested in expanding their knowledge and skill sets in the field of beekeeping, whether to start a beekeeping business or to add beekeeping to their existing agricultural enterprises. Our project also supports active duty military; and Veteran family members, dependents, caregiver, and community supporters. Our region for this project primarily includes 4 counties in western Washington state (Thurston, Lewis, Pierce, & Whatcom). Joint Base Lewis McChord, the 4th largest military base in the US, is located within our region. More than 137,000 Veterans make up 10% of our region's population, almost double the ratio of the nation. With large numbers of military personnel leaving active service and looking for new career pathways, there are opportunities in agriculture and natural resources to provide livelihoods for Veterans, increase local food production, preserve farmland, and heal self, the land, and build community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?There are ongoing opportunities for free enrollment in: Micro Loan Program - Enterprise for Equity Money 101 - Enterprise for Equity Dependable Strengths - Enterprise for Equity Business Readiness workshops - Enterprise for Equity Business Planning Program - Enterprise for Equity Whole Farm Planning - WSU Cultivating Success Agricultural Entrepreneurship - WSU Cultivating Success Advanced Financial Management - WSU Cultivating Success Whole Farm Planning - WSU Southwest Washington Grazing School- WSU Extension Ag Entrepreneurship - WSU Gardening workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Farming workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Habitat Stewardship workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Land Management workshop series - Thurston Conservation District Beginning Beekeeper Certification - WASBA Apprentice Beekeeper Certification - WASBA The Pollinator Knowledge and Fun Fest - WASBA How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Marketing and outreach to disseminate information about Healing Through Hives to our target audience and the greater community was done both in-person and through various online means. GRuB's Veteran Program presented to over 100 community members about Healing Through Hives at several 2023 GRuB events and dinners, as well as our first event at the WA-State Governor's Mansion. Presentations and hand-outs were offered to over a dozen Veteran farmers at our June 21st Solstice event at the Orting Veterans Farm. Staff also tabled and disseminated Healing Through Hives (HTH) information at the WASBA's first Pollinator Fest in July 2023. In addition, flyers were distributed and put up at various places throughout the community, such as the Veterans Museum in Centralia. Partners, such as the FVC-WA, WSU, WDVA, E4E and others helped spread the word to their audiences through their websites, social media and newsletters. HTH results and events have also been promoted on GRuB's website and via GRuB's social media and e-News platforms. HTH is also highlighted on the new FVC-WA website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan on better communication and coordination through project partners in an effort to bridge any potential gaps as we move into the 2024 beekeeping season. Using feedback contained in our end of season survey, along with face to face assessments we will adapt annual work plans and redistribute any necessary resources to accomplish the project deliverables and best support its cohort of military veteran participants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Beekeeping Pathways and Training Objective 1a: By 2023, establish WA State standards and support for journeyman and master beekeepers so that beekeepers can progress from beginner to master competencies. WASBA has been working with Washington State University (WSU) to develop and certify an updated certification course for the Journeyman and Master beekeeping certification courses.The Journeyman course has been redeveloped and reintroduced and they are working on the Master certification course. Objective 1b: Offer 6 beginning beekeeper certification courses (hybrid) at no cost to 120 beginning farmer beekeepers. Woods Bee Co has administered 2 "Beginning Beekeeper" courses in the summer of 2022 and 2 "Beginning Beekeeper" courses in the winter of 2023, certifying a total of 16 military veterans. Objective 1c: Offer 3 apprentice beekeeper certification courses at no cost to 30+ certified beginner beekeepers. Woods Bee Co has administered 1 "Apprentice Beekeeper" course in 2022 and 1 in 2023 certifying 26 military veterans. Objective 1d: Offer 3 journeyman beekeeper certification courses at no cost to 15 certified apprentice beekeepers. This will happen next reporting period Objective 1e: 50+ beekeeper trainees access advanced training and support to develop business plans, gain skills in value-added products, or enhance the conservation practices on their farms. Jennah Kemp, GRuB's Veteran Program Specialist works with potential beekeepers/farmers to develop plans for success based on their individual goals.To date she has met one-on-one withand helped connect 17 military beekeepers/farmers to resources statewide, helping them develop and/or refine their farm and business plan(s) and enhance conservation practices on their land.Here is a list of the classes, workshops, and resources made available for our HTH cohort members: Micro Loan Program - Enterprise for Equity (E4E) Money 101 - E4E Dependable Strengths - E4E Business Readiness workshops - E4E Business Planning Program - E4E Whole Farm Planning - WSU Cultivating Success (WSU-CS) Agricultural Entrepreneurship - WSU-CS Advanced Financial Management - WSU-CS Whole Farm Planning - WSU Southwest Washington Grazing School- WSU Extension Ag Entrepreneurship - WSU Gardening workshop series - Thurston Conservation District (TCD) Farming workshop series - TCD Habitat Stewardship workshop series - TCD Land Management workshop series - TCD Beginning Beekeeper Certification - WASBA Apprentice Beekeeper Certification - WASBA The Pollinator Knowledge and Fun Fest - WASBA We have offered 7 "seasonally appropriate" beekeeping workshops to help beekeepers of all skill levels better keep bees in western Washington. Workshop topics included: Hive Checks, Splitting Hive, Queen Care, Catching and Carting for Swarms, Integrated Pest Management, and Feeding and Preparing for Winter. Goal 2: Community Apiaries We share the community apiary model and tools broadly, both within beekeeping communities, and with other enterprises. Like a community garden, a community apiary can "bee" applicable in locations (urban and rural, public and private spaces), especially where community members might have limited access to resources to start their own operations, or may benefit from a farming experience together with others with a shared background. This model is especially applicable to enterprise types with high land access or start-up costs, such as community shellfish beds or dairy/other livestock. Beekeeping is synergistic with many types of farm operations and locations, as it has relatively small land needs, and enhances other crops and whole-farm ecology through pollination. Objective 2a: Develop the Community Apiary model and resources for supporting apiaries in WA. We have developed a draft HTH WA State Apiary Site Field Manual as well as resource list available on the Washington Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-WA) website. Objective 2b: Pilot the establishment of 2 Veteran-centric Community Apiary sites. The Veterans Ecological Trades Collective (VETC) is home to our first (8 hive) community apiary supporting community members throughout south Thurston and north Lewis counties. The WA State Soldiers Home is home to our second (8 hive) Healing Through Hives community apiary. This apiary supports beekeepers throughout Thurston and Pierce counties. We have also partnered with The Washington State Governor's Mansion to offer "hands-on" beekeeping workshops for program participants on the Capitol campus in Olympia, WA. Objective 2c: Mentor 2 additional Community Apiaries serving Veterans and/or other socially disadvantaged farming groups in WA state. Additional community apiary sites are on-track to open and receive HTH program support in both 2024 and 2025. Goal 3: Veteran Mentoring? Objective 3a: Develop resources and provide training and support that prepares 10-15 beekeeping mentors from military and non-military backgrounds to work with Veterans. Objective 3b: 24-30 Beginning Veteran or socially disadvantaged beekeepers engage in a mentoring relationship that increases their skills, knowledge, and connectivity with other beekeepers, and helps them gain skills or competencies to increase farm viability. GRuB's Veteran Programs Specialist provided direct mentorship and one-on-one support to 12 Veteran beginning beekeepers in 2023. Alan Woods provided mentorship and guidance to 20 Military Veterans in 2023 through his beginning and apprentice certification courses and his hands-on workshops. In addition, dozens of other veterans were indirectly supported through the resources made available and accessible through the WA- Farmer Veteran Coalition website. We have connected dozens of potential and current beginning farmers and beekeepers to resources to help support them as both military veterans and beekeepers.With the support of our HTH project partners (FVC-WA and WASBA) we have been able to connect with military veterans and their families in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Our Healing Through Hives beekeeping mentors have reported that many of the Veteran beekeepers they have mentored and worked with this year were able to overwinter their bees for the first time and have experienced a new element of confidence in their abilities to keep bees. Several have also taken on the role of leadership in starting a beekeeping club and mentorship program in their rural areas, where no such support previously existed. A number of beginning Veteran beekeepers reported that beekeeping has become an activity they do with their family and has led to them enjoying more quality time together. Several of the Veteran beekeepers that have completed the beekeeping certification courses are now learning the business aspects of beekeeping and selling their honey and bees. Here are a few members of our cohort that are instrumental in the success of the Healing Through Hives beekeeping program. Alan Woods - President of the Washington State Beekeepers Association (WASBA), US Army veteran, HTH mentor and project partner. Mike Ferguson - Puyallup City Firefighter, Marine Corps veteran, Journeyman certified beekeeper, HTH cohort member. Mike Devany - President of the Washington Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-WA), US Air Force veteran, HTH project partner and cohort mentor. Carrie Little - Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA) Orting Veterans Farm manager, Journeyman certified beekeeper, HTH mentor and Orting apiary manager.
Publications
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