Happy Veterans Day!
Alex Cumings is a staff member at GRuB, and has been working with our Veterans Program since January 2024. She is not a Veteran herself, but the child of two, as both her mom and dad were in the Army for most of her life. While she did not directly experience what many go through in the military, she carries the burden in a different way, experiencing the impacts of post-traumatic stress secondhand.
Alex states: The Veterans Program here at GRuB has allowed me to connect with my dad in ways we have not been able to since I was young. He came to our first beekeeping workshop a couple months ago, and he got to suit up and hold a frame of bees for the first time. The look on his face was full of child-like wonder, and I got to take the picture like a proud parent. I think that experience healed something in both of us that day. We will be starting beekeeping together next year when he retires. I’ll always be thankful to GRuB and the Healing Through Hives Project for the opportunity to grow my friendship with my dad.
This year, we were able to connect 56 Veterans with farming and beekeeping resources through our partnership with the Washington Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. This beekeeping season, GRuB's Veterans Program–Healing Through Hives–facilitated 6 workshops, once a month at the GRuB farm. Our gracious and knowledgeable mentor, Dave Muehleisen–retired Evergreen State College entomology professor–was the guide for 8 Veteran beginner beekeepers who started beekeeping this year or plan to in the near future. Everyone reported an increase in beekeeping confidence & knowledge and connection to community.
[The beekeeping workshops] have been good for me. A good way for me to reintegrate into society. I never felt pressured to come, I wanted to be here. ~2025 Veteran beginner beekeeper
I’ve had to hold on to [my trauma] for so long by myself, until I came to a gardening workshop [at GRuB] and got connected. ~2025 Veteran Peer Support Training participant
To support the Veterans Program in current and future endeavors, please donate to our Give Local campaign.
