Veterans Farm in Western Mass
Donation protected
My best friend Dean and I have been working on this project for a few months now and we were going to keep it private until the house was officially purchased but it's hard not to be excited. With all of the tension created from this election we wanted to share with you what we are doing to positively change our country. Our project has been privately funded up to this point, and this is our first attempt to get support from crowd funding.
In Massachusetts alone there are 400,000 Veterans and on average 20% of them suffer from PTSD. Currently 1200 Veterans are homeless and the winter is coming. This is what sparked us to really be the change that we wanted to see in this world.
We are in the process of buying this beautiful 8 bedroom house with an 18 stall horse barn and two story barn in order to provide veterans with a space to call their own and teach them how to farm. Aiming to keep their hands and minds busy in order to help them heal their invisable scars. Twenty-two veterans a day kill themselves due to this terrible battle. Studies show that farming can help them learn to work together as a team, show each other their limits day in and day out and grow their self esteem.
I have teamed up with Terra Cura, a nonprofit orginization focused on building communities through community gardens. In the upcoming year we plan to work hand in hand with these veterans in order to house them, employ them and give them an opportunity to surrounded themselves with other veterans going through the same struggles. All while teaching them how to grow sustainable vegetable gardens that will help feed the surrounding towns, and help build the community.
The money raised will help with creating a furnished home for each veteran, farm supplies and recreation opportunities for the veterans. We plan to be in the house by January 1, 2017 and start farming this spring. Our goal is to bring the produce grown to local farmers markets and eventually create a CSA.
I can't thank you all enough for supporting us through this journey and supporting our Veterans whom we owe the biggest thanks of all.
Tornadoes and hurricanes get all the press but termites cause more damage than both combined. Start small get out, be active and be the change you want to see. Make the difference that you can so we can bring this country together.
In Massachusetts alone there are 400,000 Veterans and on average 20% of them suffer from PTSD. Currently 1200 Veterans are homeless and the winter is coming. This is what sparked us to really be the change that we wanted to see in this world.
We are in the process of buying this beautiful 8 bedroom house with an 18 stall horse barn and two story barn in order to provide veterans with a space to call their own and teach them how to farm. Aiming to keep their hands and minds busy in order to help them heal their invisable scars. Twenty-two veterans a day kill themselves due to this terrible battle. Studies show that farming can help them learn to work together as a team, show each other their limits day in and day out and grow their self esteem.
I have teamed up with Terra Cura, a nonprofit orginization focused on building communities through community gardens. In the upcoming year we plan to work hand in hand with these veterans in order to house them, employ them and give them an opportunity to surrounded themselves with other veterans going through the same struggles. All while teaching them how to grow sustainable vegetable gardens that will help feed the surrounding towns, and help build the community.
The money raised will help with creating a furnished home for each veteran, farm supplies and recreation opportunities for the veterans. We plan to be in the house by January 1, 2017 and start farming this spring. Our goal is to bring the produce grown to local farmers markets and eventually create a CSA.
I can't thank you all enough for supporting us through this journey and supporting our Veterans whom we owe the biggest thanks of all.
Tornadoes and hurricanes get all the press but termites cause more damage than both combined. Start small get out, be active and be the change you want to see. Make the difference that you can so we can bring this country together.
Organizer
Jake Alexander
Organizer
Athol, MA
