City Works With 'Hives For Heroes' Project to Teach Veterans Art of Beekeeping

VETERANS GATHER

TO COLLECT HONEY

AS PART OF ‘HIVES FOR HEROES’ PROJECT

         After installing three bee hives this spring near the City Parks Maintenance facility off Canyon Lake Drive, and after a summer of nurturing efforts, volunteers for the local Hives for Heroes organization have collected the honey for canning.

          Veterans gathered at the City Parks Maintenance facility to put the honey into jars.  Hives for Heroes is a non-profit organization that pairs mentors with veterans to teach veterans the art of beekeeping.

          “We’ve been working with Sturgis beekeeper Brain Maschino and three hives were placed on the Parks grounds near the maintenance shop facility,” said Slim Buckley, who has worked in buildings and grounds maintenance with the City’s Parks Department for the past seven years.  “We started with three veterans and we currently are working with nine veterans, teaching them beekeeping.”

           Buckley said the three hives produced more than 110 pounds of honey.  He said the plan is to sell the honey with proceeds used to buy suits, gloves and other equipment for more veterans to use in the beekeeping program.  Buckley hopes to double the size of the operation to six hives next spring.