The following is a new program HOPE FARMS FOR VETERANS. They will be starting with “HOPE FARMS BOONE NC CHAPTER” to house Veterans within the first few month of 2013. Please take a few minutes to learn about this program and how together we can make a difference in helping to start restoring HOPE for many:
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to help Veterans, PTSD veterans, or any disabled combat veterans reintegrate back into society through the use of horticulture therapy, while working together in a relaxed, open environment. Veterans will work as a team to develop solutions that will enable them to overcome physical and mental barriers..
Goals:
America’s farms are facing a crisis for lack of young people going into agriculture. Most statistics point to the average American farmer being between 57 and 60 years old with two farmers retiring for every one entering the field.
Our goals are:
-to be a place of transition for any Veteran that needs time for healing.
-to provide a home and a job to restore hope.
-to help make the transition back into civilian life.
-to help fill this gap by partnering with organizations like Farmers Veterans Coalition to assist disabled veterans in obtaining the resources to start their own farm or to work with larger farming organizations.
-to train and teach veterans how to run a small farming business in their local community
-to expand out to all fifty states.
We want to make a connection between our veterans and the civilian community at large. The way we do this is by:
1) Having disabled veterans grow and sell fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, U-pick and commercial markets, also, develop organic, hydroponic, aquaculture, and bamboo farms. This will help them to become more comfortable socializing with the public.
2) To show the public that veterans and disabled veterans can be successful working in the civilian world.
3) To educate the community about the health benefits of eating organic food. We want to follow a model that will help create a healthier nation. Who better to lead the way than our Nation’s veterans?
4) To provide a combination of work, therapy, education and socialization to help veterans reintegrate into society through sustainable agriculture training.
5) To collaborate and work with local farmers, organic associations, community business leaders.
6) To collaborate with the Veterans Affairs (WTP) work therapy program.
7. To have a funding program to support “Hope Farms” without taking any type of grant from the Federal Government. Our “Pay-It-Forward” program is in the development stage now. We will use this program to support each farm until it becomes a profitable farm in the local community.I hope that this answers all your questions on just what we are starting up.
THIS program is one I (Lisa) truly believe in. If you or someone you know has available land – Hope Farms is looking for partners in every state and are additionally looking for board members. If interested please forward your resume here: unknownvet@gmail.com .
Most importantly they are looking for land owner partners for “HOPE FARMS FOR PTSD VETS”. A great need exists to be more than just a place for a homeless Veteran. Hope Farms wants to be able to give them a place to heal, learn, live, and help grow more than just a crop. You know the old saying “give a man a fish, you’ve fed him for a day, but teach a man to fish you have fed him for life”.
It is no secret that I believe we owe our soldiers a great deal of gratitude but that gratitude must evolve into help. What better way to offer a veteran help than this??
Please, share this program with your email list.
For further information please contact Bob at unknownvet@gmail.com
