Armed to Urban Farm program helping veterans transition to farming
In nine years, the “Armed to Farm” program has trained more than 800 veterans in agriculture across the country – in California, Montana, Texas, Ohio, Maryland and New York, among other states.
By Maya Rodriguez
WCPO
Oct 25, 2022
Excerpt:
In small lots and in backyards, something is taking root in a program called Armed to Urban Farm.
“We train veterans who are interested in urban agriculture versus sort of rural agriculture,” said Mike Lewis, with the National Center for Appropriate Technology.
Thanks to a partnership between The U.S. Botanic Garden and other agencies, veterans are learning all the ins and outs of what it’s like to farm in the middle of a city. In this case— Memphis.
“They’re here to learn and connect with each other and see what they might be able to take back to their own operations,” said U.S. Botanic Garden education specialist Emily Hestness.
U.S. Army veteran Charley Jordan spent more than 28 years in the service.
“I saw how agriculture was therapeutic,” he said. “It was helpful for me and I figured this must be helpful for other veterans.”
With his service dog, Dagger, by his side, he now runs a flower farm in Tennessee but joined this week-long program because he is interested in doing more.
“Just recently, I completed a certificate in horticulture therapy from the University of Tennessee,” Jordan said. “So, I’m slowly moving on to working more with veterans and mental health and using plants as healing.”
