Help an Air Force Veteran become a beekeeper for health.

Hello! My name is KJ and I am a proud 15-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. During that time I had two overseas deployments, to Afghanistan and Africa. I got out of the military in 2014. I wish I could have served longer, but it wasn’t in the cards for me, and I got an early retirement. Since then I have become a VFW member and a Freemason to keep active and give back to veterans and my community.

A couple of years ago, a fellow veteran turned me onto the Heroes to Hives program which was created to teach veterans battling PTSD the art of beekeeping, to address personal wellness. The more I learned about the program, the more interested I became in keeping honey bees. So I spent last year learning everything I could about caring for these 6-legged honey-producing insects! The first step was enrolling in the Heroes to Hives course, which is a 9-month long online course that was very in-depth and comprehensive. I also took a beekeeping class through Camp Valor, a local organization that offers outdoor activities for disabled veterans. Their services are mainly focused on hunting and fishing, but a few years ago they too discovered the benefits of beekeeping for veterans and started their own apiary. I also took a class from my county’s local beekeeping club and have attended their monthly meetings.

I got hands-on training and experience working with real honey bees and their hives in a local Heroes to Hives apiary and the Camp Valor apiary. I didn’t know what to expect my first time in the bee yard, but something magical happened when the bees started buzzing and flying around me. Oddly, I felt very calm and relaxed. There is also an energy that can be felt that is exciting and soothing. Working in the hives makes you hyper-focused on the task and all other worries just slip away. After a year of study and working with bees, I’m ready to get honey bees for myself!

I am asking for your assistance in raising $2000 for setting up my apiary and getting the equipment that is required to keep, maintain, and care for the bees, as well as collecting honey. $400 for 2 honey bee nucs (the bees themselves), $600 for hive woodware and stands, $250 for beekeeping suits and protective gear, $500 for honey extraction and bottling equipment, and $250 for apiary tools. I do not need to get everything all at once to start, so every little bit will help me along the way. Thank You so much for anything you can do to support this budding hobby and wellness aid.

Blessed Bee!