{"id":7769,"date":"2025-09-24T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7769"},"modified":"2025-09-24T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:30:00","slug":"veterans-find-healing-and-skills-through-beekeeping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7769","title":{"rendered":"Veterans find healing and skills through beekeeping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-09-24T14:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

A new buzz is in the air at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, thanks to an 8-week beekeeping course for Veterans in the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System\u2019s<\/a> Whole Health program.<\/p>\n

The course, launched earlier this summer, is a partnership between VA\u2019s Innovations and Whole Health teams, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and Youth Bee Works, a local group focused on community beekeeping education.<\/p>\n

Connecting with nature and each other<\/h2>\n

Every Monday, Veterans gather in the quiet outdoor setting to connect with nature, each other and the world of honeybees. The program combines hands-on hive work with lessons on pollination, honey harvesting and the wellness benefits of beekeeping\u2014an extension of Whole Health\u2019s mission to empower Veterans to take charge of their well-being.<\/p>\n

Marine Corps Veteran Mischelle Kwa said the program\u2019s value is in the camaraderie. \u201cThe connection with the other Veterans is meaningful,\u201d Kwa said. \u201cIt\u2019s all about the vets. This program helps us get connected with each other and with nature. I think it\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Army Veteran Vickie Williams said the class even changed how she feels about bees. \u201cOnce the working bees are out pollinating, they\u2019re pretty much harmless,\u201d Williams said with a laugh. \u201cI don\u2019t have to swat them away anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Marine Corps Veteran Demetrius Jones, the draw is trying something new. \u201cI thought I might get stung,\u201d he joked. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool and so far from the mundane\u2014something to do just to check off your list.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some participants leave with a deeper appreciation for honey. \u201cI\u2019m a convert\u2014no more store-bought honey for me,\u201d Navy Veteran Andrew Watters said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s great about the honey is we harvest everything here,\u201d Army Veteran Shirley Carter said. \u201cHaving something local, something you\u2019ve built with your own hands\u2014you can\u2019t beat that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Air Force Veteran Paul Chizek said the program reflects Whole Health\u2019s broader focus. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of good information\u2014gardening, self-sufficiency, diet,\u201d he said. \u201cEducation is a big part of what they\u2019re doing, making us well-informed on everything that has to do with the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

The course will conclude in October with a honey extraction event, where participants will collect and bottle their homegrown honey. So far, Veterans have already produced one-pound jars from hives they have tended. Organizers say the program demonstrates how beekeeping can foster healing, skill-building and environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a> about the Whole Health programs your facility offers.<\/p>\n

\n

This article was originally published on the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System site<\/a> and has been edited for style and clarity.\u202f<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VA\u2019s Whole Health program supports health and well-being, and even offers unique activities like beekeeping.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"\nVeterans find healing and skills through beekeeping - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VA\u2019s Whole Health program supports health and well-being, and even offers unique activities like beekeeping.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7769\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Veterans find healing and skills through beekeeping - 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