The AHA Cluster s BOOTS TO BEES Program

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1 The United States is currently battling two major epidemics: the loss of 1) our veterans to suicide and debilitating mental afflictions and 2) the bees that are vital to pollinating our food supplies. In addition, veterans often struggle financially when they return to civilian life. This Boots to Bees Project joins the forces of partners across the nation to help address both issues while creating business opportunities and jobs for veterans (and any interested family members) and positively affecting the health of the nation s food and honey supplies. We invite you to join us. The AHA Cluster s BOOTS TO BEES Program The Boots to Bees Project relies on the cooperation and sharing of information between the AHA Cluster; James McCormick, Director of Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture, West Virginia Department of Agriculture; and Dr. Craig Bryan, Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies, University of Utah. THE TEAM: Although there are over 100 economic niches in the Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agroforestry (AHA) industries, the United States is losing farmers at an alarming rate. The AHA Cluster, drawing from 50 years experience in Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agroforestry, has formulated a Value Chain concept to integrate these niches as a longrange hedge for our national food security and to increase profitability for small rural and urban farmers. James McCormick is the Director of WV Department of Agriculture s Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program. This program identifies Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agroforestry opportunities and directly assists veterans in starting microbusinesses and cottage industries or obtaining jobs in those areas. The first of its kind in the US, this program has grown into a model for other states to adopt. To date, the Beekeeping program has the highest success rate; over 270 veterans have been trained. Craig Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, Director of the National Center for Veterans Services at the University of Utah, is a nationally-recognized expert in military mental health. In addition to suicide prevention and PTSD research and treatment, Dr Bryan is committed to their secondary mission to better position these skilled, experienced, and well-trained veterans for continued service that further advances American values, prosperity, and security. BOOTS: This idea is not new. During WWI, there was a nationwide program called "Healing with Honey". This program offered veterans and injured soldiers training in a

2 peaceful, slow-paced occupation that enabled them to continue to support their country by supplying honey to the troops. In the 1940s, for essentially the same reasons as well as in response to sugar rationing, 6 million honey-producing colonies across the country helped the war effort. In the aftermath of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Boots to Bees program will once again introduce veterans and soldiers to beekeeping, thereby addressing both the current shortage of bees and the resultant threat to half of our country s food supply. James McCormick, himself a beekeeper, has found that even today veterans seem to have a natural affinity for this business. More importantly, he contends that agriculture-related jobs such as beekeeping actually help veterans deal with PTSD and other mental afflictions. The scientific community is listening ( Agri-therapy Helps Vets With PTSD: Farming is a new challenge after two decades of combat Psychology Today, Aug 12, 2015). BEES: The US currently has only 2.5 million honeybee colonies and they are facing significant threats. For over a decade, beekeepers have been losing 30 to 90% of their honeybees over the winter; 19% winter bee loss is the recognized sustainable level. Splitting and repopulating colonies has helped but it has become increasingly difficult to recoup costs. Although what exactly is killing the honeybees is still unclear, scientists blame a combination of parasites (Varroa Mite), pesticides, poor nutrition, and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which results in a dead colony with no determined scientific cause. To make matters worse, other pollinators are also affected by these factors. Finally, most beekeepers are in their 50s and 60s and are considering early retirement or are being forced out of business as honeybees continue to die at an alarming rate. In fact, a University of Maryland Bee Researcher, Dennis van Engelscorp, is more worried about beekeepers going extinct than the problems facing the bees themselves. The concern is national: in June of 2014, the White House set up a task force to deal with the loss of bees and beekeepers. There are also four USDA Bee Labs throughout the US as well as an USDA Pollination Research Center in Utah. Beekeeping is such an integral part of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agroforestry that the entire industry will benefit from the increases in 1) flower and vegetable gardening, 2) food supply to bees, 3) concern about disease and pesticide overuse, and 4) increased cooperation among organizations and institutions addressing hive and pollinator health. Because pollination is not limited to honeybees, native bees, pollinating plants, and associated products will also be addressed.

3 THE PLAN: For these reasons, the AHA Cluster s Boots to Bees Program will begin a program for the care and fostering of bees and other pollinating insects, forage plants, and hive production. In cooperation with their key Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture and National Center for Veterans Studies partners, the program will first focus on (the Beehive State of) Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with a secondary market in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This model, which will assist veterans in starting microbusinesses and in securing and retaining jobs that help combat the effects of PTSD and other service-related maladies, will then be extended to the entire United States and interested partners throughout North America. As a supplement to traditional beekeeping, veterans who seek a unique way of life can become traveling bee custodians in a peaceful and slow-paced occupation. This position offers a whole new set of opportunities for jobs in servicing the hives and will make it easier for everyone to have a beehive in their yard, parks, and schools, even on downtown buildings. Once fully developed, the bee custodian Education and Certification Program will be available at educational institutions throughout North America. Boots to Bees will not only train beekeepers, but will also build a value chain to develop marketing channels while addressing other pollinators as well as the problems affecting hive health. Specifically, veterans will be involved in all levels of this project from manufacturing to marketing -- and will provide a mix of products and services. Combining 1) communication and networking, 2) all aspects of honeybee support, 3) bee-friendly garden construction, 4) specialty pollinator plants, 5) support for and supply of other pollinators, 6) hive manufacturing, 7) cooperatively-used equipment, 8) training, 9) education, and 10) science provides the opportunity to positively impact this industry. Providing beehive services and enhancing the role of native bees and other pollinators in the grand scheme of food security will help make this niche program successful and profitable. The AHA Cluster believes individuals can make a significant impact in protecting our food supply by hosting honeybees and other pollinators. Boots to Bees marketing efforts will therefore focus on 1) the small rural farmer who will immediately benefit from bees and increased pollination rates, 2) school groups who will learn the importance of bees and other pollinators, 3) the homeowner who wants to help the environment or who enjoys bees/beekeeping/pollinating plants. Additionally, children s books author and illustrator, Delia Wach, will draw on her experience in writing books with children to develop educational books and materials in conjunction with, among other educational institutions, the University of Utah Department of Psychology Pre-School. These products will be marketed nationally to both educate children about pollination and to help address the learned fear of bees while simultaneously

4 supplementing Boots to Bees marketing efforts. Additionally, Marty and Delia Wach, who have presented science, writing, and art programs in hundreds of schools across the nation, will help develop an on-site educational program that veterans can present in schools throughout the United States. Finally, the Navy's Seabee veterans and active personnel have been approached to join the AHA Boots to Bees Program. Should this relationship be finalized, a portion of the profits will support the Seabee s programs to combat cancer. Their fighting bee logo also closely aligns to this project. The attached diagram of the Boots to Bees Program shows a sample of the individuals and companies who to date have expressed interest in working together for beekeeping success. AHA Cluster will manage goal-setting, networking, and communication channels for the production and sales of the beekeeping value chain. The National Center for Veterans Studies will manage project funding and provide therapeutic help when needed. All such individuals and companies then become part of the Cluster Value Chain. *************************************************************************************** SUMMARY: The AHA Cluster, armed with new paradigms for Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agroforestry, knows how to fit beekeeping into the grand program of food security as well as what is required to make this niche Bee/Pollination Program successful and profitable. The combination of widespread pollination focus, additional hobbyist beehives, custodial beekeeping services, and beekeeping/pollination support products provides the economic opportunity to positively affect pollination rates throughout the US. The long-term goal of 4 million new hives (to match the number of US hives during WWII) in the United States opens up countless job opportunities in education, manufacturing, science, and marketing. Add to this the fact that the men and women who have defended our Country will be increasing food security for our children. Veterans become even greater heroes by taking on the fight against the enemies that are killing 30% - 90% of our United States bees every year. This will not be a peaceful and slow-paced project but it will help save North America's food supply and provide numerous jobs for veterans. With the Boots to Bees Program, veterans can help small farmers better pollinate their crops and every North American interested in saving bees and/or our food supply can help our veterans in this fight by putting a beehive and pollinating plants in their yards or on their rooftops.

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