My name is Mary and I am doing this fundraiser for one of the most deserving projects I've ever had the pleasure to be part of. Please support if you are able and/or pass on to your social networks as appropriate.

https://www.veteranfarmprojectsociety.com/

Healing. Connection. Discovering your best self.

The Veterans Farm project began in 2018 when former military senior medic Jessica Miller, Sergeant (retired), and her husband Steve Murgatroyd, Sergeant (retired), transitioned from active duty and moved from their home in Ontario to Nova Scotia. Nestled in the small community of Sweets Corner in rural Nova Scotia this farm is dedicated to providing a safe and healing space for women veterans to grow food, foster self-worth, and find peace. What started as unworked land overgrown with weeds grew into a productive farm providing hundreds of "We Care" boxes to food-insecure veterans through their local Legion Command, as well as an abundance of food staples and "caring" backpacks to several Halifax Military Family Resource Centers. The Veterans Farm Project now also offers services and workshops tailored to the unique needs of retired women veterans, helping them rediscover their true worth after a potentially traumatic military career.

The farm has transformed from feeding empty stomachs to healing damaged minds and souls. "Our mission and our values have evolved over the years, but our primary goal has always been to create a safe, nurturing space for women veterans." A visit to the farm reveals the healing and supportive environment that Jessica has cultivated. From women tending their plots to laughter echoing during healing workshops and sharing trauma journeys in an unconditional, supportive setting, it is evident that Jessica's efforts are making a significant impact. As a certified horticulture therapist, Jessica understands the profound value of working the land and uses her expertise and personal experiences to support retired servicewomen on their healing journeys.

However, severe weather over the past year has significantly affected the farm's ability to maintain a healing environment and sustain its growth. Lost crops have hindered their capacity to provide food, while drought has diminished their ability to cultivate flowers, a vital financial resource for program funding. Extreme heat has also restricted their ability to hold healing workshops for the veteran community. Consequently, Jessica and Steve have been forced to shoulder much of the financial burden of supporting their community. Changes are necessary for this remarkable project to continue.

What Is Needed:

We are asking for your financial support. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and welcomed. To adapt the farm for future environmental challenges, a barn needs to be repurposed, and new infrastructure must be built. As a not-for-profit organization, obtaining infrastructure funding can be challenging. Major funding sources did not materialize this past year, making it unsustainable for Jessica and Steve to bear this financial burden long-term.

Why It Matters:

For many female veterans, the struggles faced after their service extend beyond physical challenges to emotional and psychological ones. The Veterans Farm Project offers a safe space for women veterans to connect, share their experiences, and heal through meaningful work. The act of growing food and contributing to the community is not only rewarding but also therapeutic.

With your generous contribution, we can help ensure that every veteran who wishes to participate in this program can do so. The skills learned at The Veterans Farm Project extend beyond farming; they offer a pathway to heal, help, and grow with others who share similar lived experiences. The farm provides women veterans a safe landing space after they have given so much to their country.

How You Can Help:

We are reaching out to you, our community, to ask for your support in making a lasting impact on the lives of our veterans. No contribution is too small, and every donation will bring us one step closer to our goal. Please give if you are able. If not, please kindly share this message with your social network in the hope that we can reach our goal.

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/people-and-stories/jessica-miller