There Are No Good Bugs or Bad Bugs

Farmer John
Jun 3
2 min read

What nature teaches us about acceptance, balance, and belonging

In permaculture, there’s no such thing as “good bugs” or “bad bugs.” There are just bugs—and each one has a role in the system.

Some pollinate.

Some decompose.

Some eat other insects.

Some show up when a plant is stressed.

Even the ones we usually call “pests” are signals. They reveal something about the health of the soil, the condition of the plants, or the balance of predators nearby.

When we try to eliminate those insects with chemicals or harsh intervention, we don’t just get rid of the bugs—we often destroy the very system that kept things in balance.

Pollinators disappear.

Birds stop coming.

Soil life suffers.

And the pests return—stronger, and harder to manage—because the ecosystem’s defenses are gone.

What nature needs isn’t control. It needs diversity.

Relationships.

Patience.

Veterans aren’t different.

Veterans often carry unique energy—shaped by service, survival, and systems built around uniformity.

Some come back mission-focused and intense.

Some feel withdrawn, guarded, or restless.

Some bring fire. Others bring quiet. And many bring both.

But too often, society labels that energy: “Too much.” “Too angry.” “Too distant.” “Too sensitive.”

At Vital Roots Foundation, we reject those labels.

Just like in a healthy ecosystem, we believe that every veteran carries something valuable.

We don’t ask anyone to change who they are. Instead, we build systems—gardens, peer support, workdays, and retreats—that are designed to honor that energy and give it space to root into something meaningful.

Healing doesn’t come from erasing parts of ourselves.

Permaculture doesn’t eliminate the wild or unpredictable elements. It designs around them.

It listens.

It observes.

It adapts.

We believe healing for veterans works the same way.

Not every feeling needs to be suppressed. Not every behavior needs to be “fixed.” Sometimes, what seems uncomfortable or disruptive is simply unfamiliar—or a sign that the system needs support.

The answer isn’t to isolate, medicate, or eliminate.

The answer is belonging.

Strong systems include it all.

At Vital Roots Foundation, we’re creating spaces where veterans can reconnect—with themselves, with nature, and with others—through regenerative agriculture, community building, and shared work.