Beekeeping as a Therapeutic Practice
Care Farming Network's Monthly Member Gathering
Thursday, May 1, 2025
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Join the Care Farming Network for our May Monthly Gathering, where we’ll explore the power of animal-assisted interventions with a special focus on therapeutic beekeeping.
Therapeutic beekeeping has been shown to reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression by encouraging mindfulness, routine, sensory awareness, and connection to living systems. Working with bees also builds confidence, patience, and emotional regulation, making it a powerful practice for veterans, trauma survivors, and others seeking meaningful engagement with nature.
This session will provide practical insight and inspiration for care farmers, aspiring practitioners, and those simply curious about innovative models of therapeutic beekeeping.
Presenters
Adam and Lacey Ingrao own and operate Bee Wise Farms, a diversified farm located in Newberry, Michigan, that produces lavender, herbs, cut flowers, honeybee products, and recycled art with a focus on healthy lives and healthy land. They are the proud founders of the Heroes to Hives program, dedicated to supporting the lives of those returning from war.
Monica Schmitt is the Director at Mission Beelieve, located in Taneytown, Maryland, dedicated to providing sustainable beekeeping education to Veterans and First Responders. Through their comprehensive Beekeeping Beginners Course, mentorship programs, hands-on workshops, and monthly seminars, Mission Beelieve empowers participants to develop a new skill while fostering a deeper connection with nature and their local communities. By embracing the therapeutic and vocational benefits of beekeeping, participants transform negative energy into purposeful and rewarding endeavors.