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HealingFields Tampa Bay, Hudson, FL (2026)

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 MEMORIAL DAY 2026 🇺🇸

Today, we pause. We remember. We honor.

Memorial Day isn't about barbecues or long weekends. It's about the men and women who never made it home. The ones who gave everything so we could have everything.

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row. That same spirit of sacrifice echoes through Arlington, through small-town cemeteries, through foreign soil where Americans rest far from home.

At Healing Fields Tampa Bay, we carry forward their legacy in a different way. We work the soil they defended. We grow food on the land they kept free. We heal in the peace they died to preserve.

Every veteran who walks through our gates carries the memory of brothers and sisters who didn't make it back. Every seed we plant is a tribute to their sacrifice. Every harvest is proof that their service mattered.

Today we remember:
• The 1.3 million Americans who gave their lives in service since 1775
• The empty chairs at family tables
• The friends we still talk to in our heads
• The weight of the folded flag
• The sound of Taps at sunset

They didn't die for a country. They died for the people IN the country. They died for YOU.

So today, before the grill fires up, take a moment. Say their names. Remember their faces. Honor their sacrifice.

And tomorrow, live a life worthy of their sacrifice.

From all of us at Healing Fields Tampa Bay - we remember. We honor. We will never forget.

Per Mare, Per Terram, Per Caelum - By Sea, By Land, By Air - they served. By remembrance, we honor.

🇺🇸🌾

05/16/2026

🇺🇸 ARMED FORCES DAY 2026 - AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY 🇺🇸

Today, we honor every man and woman who has worn the uniform in defense of our nation. From the Continental Army in 1775 to today's service members - 250 years of service, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to freedom.

On this Armed Forces Day, we celebrate:
🪖 The U.S. Army - est. 1775
⚓ The U.S. Navy - est. 1775
🦅 The U.S. Marine Corps - est. 1775
✈️ The U.S. Air Force - est. 1947
🛡️ The U.S. Coast Guard - est. 1790
🌌 The U.S. Space Force - est. 2019

250 years of Americans answering the call. 250 years of defending liberty. 250 years of service before self.

At Healing Fields Tampa Bay, we stand on the shoulders of those who served before us. Our founder, Marine Corps veteran Devin Brown, knows firsthand the weight of the uniform and the journey that follows.

Today, we honor:
✨ Those currently serving
✨ Those who served before us
✨ Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice
✨ The families who support them all

From the battlefields of Bunker Hill to the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan - American service members have carried the torch of freedom for 250 years. That legacy continues in every veteran who now serves their community, mentors the next generation, and proves that the mission never truly ends.

To every service member, past and present: Thank you. Your service matters. Your sacrifice matters. You matter.

And to our veterans finding new missions through agriculture, beekeeping, and community - you're proving that service takes many forms. From combat boots to work boots, the dedication remains the same.

Happy Armed Forces Day. 🇺🇸

05/14/2026

🐝 BEE SEASON IS HERE! Understanding Queen Bee Development 🐝

It's PRIME TIME for beekeeping in Florida, and if you're in our bee class or just curious about these incredible insects, check out this chart showing the amazing journey of a queen bee!

👑 QUEEN BEE DEVELOPMENT (15-16 Days Total):
• Day 1: Egg laid vertically in cell by worker bee
• Days 1-3: Egg hatches into larva, fed exclusively on royal jelly
• Days 3-5: Larva grows rapidly, continuously fed royal jelly
• Day 6: Larva stops eating, empties gut, prepares to pupate (Pre-Pupa stage)
• Days 7-8: Larva transforms into pupa with developing legs and wings
• Days 9-10: Pupa darkens as adult queen develops inside cell
• Day 8: Workers cap the cell after egg was laid
• Days 15-16: Queen chews through cap and emerges FULLY FORMED
• Days 5-7 after emerging: Queen takes her MATING FLIGHT

🐝 THE MATING FLIGHT:
A young queen leaves the hive to mate in the air with multiple drones. She stores their s***m and returns to the hive to begin her life as queen - and she can lay up to 1,500-2,000 eggs PER DAY for 3-5 years!

💡 WHY THIS MATTERS:
Understanding bee development helps us:
✅ Know when to check hives for queen cells
✅ Time hive splits and swarm prevention
✅ Identify healthy vs struggling colonies
✅ Appreciate the precision of nature's design

Queen cells are larger and peanut-shaped (built vertically), while worker cells are smaller and hexagonal (built horizontally). The queen's health = the hive's strength!

🌸 FLORIDA BEE SEASON:
Spring is our PRIME nectar flow season! Bees are building up colonies, making honey, and this is the perfect time to:
• Start new hives
• Split strong colonies
• Add supers for honey production
• Monitor for swarming behavior

At Healing Fields, our bee class teaches you all of this hands-on. LIMITED SPOTS available - working with bees is meditative, purposeful, and one of the most rewarding skills you can learn.

📅 REMINDER: VA VET CENTER "WAR" GROUP
TODAY at 10:00 AM
DM for location and more info!

Whether you're fascinated by the science, looking for a new skill, or just want to understand these incredible pollinators - there's always room to learn more. 🐝🌻

04/25/2026

🌱 WE'RE BACK & READY FOR SPRING/SUMMER! 🌱

Healing Fields Tampa Bay is coming back full speed - and we're making some changes to beat the Florida heat!

💪 AN UPDATE:
Some of you've know I've been fighting Stage 2 cancer over the past 8+ months while keeping Healing Fields running. It's been one of the toughest battles of my life different from combat, but a battle nonetheless.

I've learned firsthand that healing takes many forms sometimes it's in the soil, sometimes it's in treatment rooms, but it's always in community. Healing isn't linear. Some days are harder than others. But showing up, working the land, and being in community with fellow veterans that's what gets us through.

If I've been slower to respond or if anything fell through the cracks, thank you for your grace and patience. Now, as I complete my last cycle a few weeks ago and now regaining strength, we're coming back stronger than ever.

Because this mission helping veterans heal through agriculture is what keeps ME going too. Healing each other helps heal ourselves. 🌾

📅 NEW SATURDAY CLASS SCHEDULE
Starting Saturday, May 9th
NEW HOURS: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
We're shifting to morning sessions so we can work the land before the sun gets too intense. Cooler mornings = better growing conditions for us AND the plants! ☀️

WHAT TO EXPECT ON MAY 9TH:
🌾 Planting seeds
🌱 Working with seedlings
🧪 Soil chemistry and testing - learn what makes soil healthy
🐣 Meet our NEW LINE OF CHICKS! (They're adorable)
🐝 LIMITED SPOTS: Sign up for our Bee Class - learn beekeeping from the ground up

📅 THIS THURSDAY - VA VET CENTER "WAR" GROUP
Thursday, April 30th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Noon)
This is our specialized group session for veterans. All are welcome!

✨ ABOUT HEALING FIELDS
This is a FREE 6-week agricultural therapy program founded by Marine Corps veteran Devin Brown to help veterans heal and transition back to civilian life through farming and camaraderie. From combat boots to work boots, we're healing through the land.

WHO IS THIS FOR?
✓ Veterans struggling with transition
✓ Anyone dealing with PTSD or trauma
✓ Veterans seeking community & purpose
✓ Those who want to learn sustainable farming
✓ Anyone curious about agricultural therapy

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. Just show up.

Whether you're interested in the science of soil, the rhythm of planting, or the buzz of beekeeping, there's something for everyone. From seeds to soil to bees - healing happens in many forms here at Healing Fields. 🌾

👉 SHARE THIS POST to help us reach more veterans who could benefit from agricultural therapy!
💬 Questions? Comment below or DM us!
🐝 Bee class spots filling fast - reserve yours now!

01/29/2026

CLASS CANCELED - Saturday, January 31st

Due to the cold weather and possible rain forecasted for this Saturday, January 31st, we will be canceling our class.

Additionally, I need to take some time to rest and recover as I'm currently just finished my 3rd cycle of treatment. Taking care of ourselves is part of the healing journey, and I appreciate your understanding.

We'll be back next Thursday and Saturday with our next session. Stay warm, everyone! 🌾

For any questions, feel free to reach out.

01/29/2026

❄️ COLD WEATHER CARE: Protecting Your Florida Garden 🌱

With freezing temperatures on going and more on the way, here's how to protect your plants at Healing Fields and at home:

FOR SEEDLINGS & YOUNG PLANTS:
• Cover with frost cloth (NOT plastic) - bring it all the way to the ground
• Move containers to protected areas or group them together
• Water soil in the morning before a freeze - moist soil retains heat better
• Add 2-3 inches of mulch (straw or wood chips) around plant bases

COLD-HARDY CROPS WE CAN GROW IN FLORIDA:
These tough vegetables can handle our winter weather:
✅ Collards, Kale, & Swiss Chard - can withstand hard freezes
✅ Broccoli, Cabbage, & Cauliflower - thrive in cold weather
✅ Carrots, Turnips, & Beets - root vegetables love Florida winters
✅ Arugula & Spinach - quick growing and frost-tolerant
✅ Lettuce & Mustard Greens - perfect for cool season growing

WHAT TO DO AFTER A FREEZE:
• Wait to prune until you see new growth - don't remove potentially living wood
• Water plants to help thaw soil and provide moisture
• Remove only dead brown leaves
• Be patient - some plants will come back in spring

Remember: Cold weather actually makes some vegetables taste SWEETER! When temperatures drop, cool-season vegetables produce more sugar to prevent their cells from freezing.

Stay warm out there, and don't give up on your winter garden! 🌾❄️

12/25/2025

🎄 A Christmas Tradition: From Field to Frontlines, and Back Again 🌾

Throughout American history, there's been a sacred bond between those who work the land and those who defend it.

During WWII, farmers worked tirelessly to feed our troops overseas. Families sent Christmas packages filled with home-baked cookies, preserves, and treats from their farms. Between 1966-1972, over 2.9 million Christmas packages were sent to servicemen and women in Vietnam. Each box was a reminder that home hadn't forgotten them.

Now, at Healing Fields Tampa Bay, we honor that connection in a different way. Our veterans aren't receiving packages from the farmthey ARE the farmers. They're working the very soil that sustained them, growing food that will nourish others, and finding healing in the same earth their fellow service members once defended.

This Christmas, we celebrate:
✨ The enduring connection between agriculture and service
✨ Veterans who traded combat boots for work boots
✨ The healing power of growing what feeds our communities
✨ Carrying forward a tradition of service—from battlefield to field

From the families who sent care packages in wartime, to the veterans who now cultivate the land in peacetime the circle of service continues.

This season, we're grateful for every veteran who has traded one mission for another, finding purpose and peace in the fields.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Healing Fields. May your holidays be filled with the warmth of family, the joy of service, and the peace that comes from good soil and better company. 🎅🌾🇺🇸

11/27/2025

🍂 Happy Thanksgiving!!! This Thanksgiving, we're grateful for every veteran who has walked through our fields and every moment of healing shared under the open sky.

At Healing Fields Tampa Bay, we've witnessed the powerful transformation that happens when veterans reconnect with the earth, rebuild camaraderie, and rediscover purpose through agricultural therapy.

We're thankful for:
✨ The veterans who trust us with their journey
✨ The community that supports our mission
✨ The healing power of nature and agriculture
✨ Every seed planted, every story shared, and every life touched

To all our veterans past, present, and future participants thank you for your service, your courage, and for allowing us to be part of your healing journey.

This Thanksgiving, we're reminded that growth happens in the quiet moments, in good soil, and in the company of those who understand.

Wishing everyone a day filled with gratitude, connection, and peace. 🌾🧡

11/10/2025

Happy Birthday Marines!!

11/04/2025

WHY IS MY WATER RUNNING OFF THE SOIL? 🤔

One of our amazing veterans asked this question the other day after watering, and it's a GREAT learning opportunity for everyone!

What you're seeing in this photo is called HYDROPHOBIC SOIL and it's very common here in Florida, especially during our long dry season (November through May).

📚 WHAT'S HAPPENING?
When soil dries out completely, it can actually start to REPEL water instead of absorbing it. Think of it like this: the soil becomes "afraid of water" (that's what hydrophobic means!). The water beads up and runs off instead of soaking in where our plant roots need it.

🌾 WHY THIS MATTERS FOR US AS FARMERS:
Our seeds won't germinate without consistent moisture. Young seedlings can die even when we're watering. Transplants struggle to establish roots. We waste water and time.

✅ HOW WE FIX IT PROVEN SOLUTIONS:

1. Add Organic Matter: Compost, aged manure, or mulch helps soil hold moisture and prevents it from becoming hydrophobic

2. Use a Wetting Agent: A few drops of dish soap per gallon of water (or commercial wetting agents) helps water pe*****te the soil

3. Water Slowly: Light sprinkle first to wet the surface, wait 10 minutes, then water normally

4. Mulch Heavy: 2 to 4 inches of mulch keeps soil from drying out in the first place

5. Don't Let It Dry Completely: Consistent moisture is easier than trying to re-wet dried soil

🎖️ VETERAN TIP: Think of hydrophobic soil like maintenance on equipment. Prevention is easier than repair! Keep that organic matter coming and maintain consistent moisture.

This is sustainable agriculture in action, folks. We learn from the soil, we adapt, and we grow together.

Questions? Drop them below. We're all learning together at Healing Fields Tampa Bay! 💪🌿

HealingFields Tampa Bay

05/25/2026

05/16/2026

05/14/2026

04/25/2026

01/29/2026

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