Bonfire #191

Healing Through Homesteading - Completed

May 3 - 6th, 2024

Daphne, AL

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Intensity Level – Medium

We invite you to attend our spring Strong Hearts Spouse Retreat!

This weekend long event will be held on a working hobby farm, Backyard Swing Farm, located on the Fish River in beautiful coastal Alabama.  Both of your hosts are Warrior Bonfire Program volunteers and active board members, Renee Chapman and Kathy Steuber. Renee is an active-duty Army spouse of over 20 years and can relate firsthand to the stress and struggles of being married to a combat veteran.  Kathy’s father is a Marine Vietnam Veteran and 4 of her 5 brothers have served in the Marines. Both Renee and Kathy have established homesteads and understand the value of this lifestyle and how it helps give purpose and healing to military families. They look forward to sharing a weekend full of fun, fellowship, friendship, and laughter.

While the itinerary is still being developed, some of the activities may include (but not limited to):

Hands on tour and meet/greet with the animals.

Relaxing Baby Goat Yoga led by an Air Force veteran/WBP volunteer.

Guided Forage Walk – learn to identify/use wild edible and medicinal herbs, plants, flowers, and mushrooms.

Learn how to make Elderberry Syrup and other natural health tinctures.

Goat milking and soap making

Beekeeping and honey tasting

Seed starting and gardening basics

Canning and simple food preservation/pantry preparedness

Breadmaking

River wading & kayaking

Ladies’ night out for shopping and dining nearby in the charming town of Fairhope, AL

Tour a local micro farm that specializes in mini-cows and visit a larger, completely off grid military homestead.

Sip and Paint or other keepsake crafting activity

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Experience the retreat just as your Purple Heart gets to do and discover what makes them so special. 

Our Spouse Retreats are positive, uplifting, and energizing, designed to give you the support you need to return home ready to be the best caregiver you can be! You must be the spouse of a Purple Heart recipient and provide verification if Purple Heart has not previously registered with the Warrior Bonfire Program in order to be eligible to attend. The Purple Heart recipient is not required to participate, in order for the spouse to participate. 

  This event is open to 4 Purple Heart Spouses – Priority is given to those that have not traveled in the past with WBP.

Lodging, travel, food, and activities are at no expense to the attending spouse – Event dates include travel days – Detailed Activities will be provided closer to time. 

Request to Attend Below

Note that Trip # & Activities May Change as we adapt this event to the collective goals of the group.

If not already, register with us as a Purple Heart Spouse! WBP – PH Spouse Registration

Request to Attend this Bonfire Retreat

When registering for a trip please keep in mind that airfare is extremely expensive and, if chosen for this Bonfire trip, we ask that you do everything in your power to attend the event. Last minute cancellations are not refundable and credits must be used within the year. Wasted funds hurt the entire program. This may impact your ability to fly for future Bonfire events. Thank you.