Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is an organization that focuses on “food access, agriculture education, workforce development, resource management and economic development. Through this focus, the organization has helped contribute to “seven million pounds of food donated to rural food pantries in Central Appalachia.” ASD primarily serves counties in northeast Tennessee, including Washington County, and southwest Virginia, but has since expanded into Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio.
ASD received a grant through the United States Department of Agriculture – Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (USDA-AGVETS) to expand its Producer Pathway program, also called Grow Your Own, and its Patriot Gardens project to aid veterans in their farming capabilities. The programs were evaluated by ETSU’s Applied Social Research Lab (ASRL) under the supervision of Candace Bright Hall-Wurst, ETSU associate professor of sociology, and Kelly Foster, ETSU associate professor of sociology and ASRL director. It was a collaborative effort that included ETSU faculty, staff and graduate students.
The Producer Pathway program is needs-based and “[is] designed to teach backyard gardeners how to grow their own food.” The veterans are provided with the supplies they need, such as tools, plants and seeds, as well as educational workshops that provide the knowledge for better farming practices. While this program is offered to anyone in the designated counties ASD serves, veterans have been identified as a “key recruitment pool into agricultural trades.” One respondent said the program “allow[s] veterans to be more self-sufficient and confident, giving them a sense of purpose and accomplishment.”
The Patriot Gardens Project “provides raised beds to veterans, as well as the supplies and skills needed to grow their own produce.” Twenty individuals registered and were supported by the program. Half of them were unemployed and the majority have a service-connected disability. The respondents overall felt successful, as “85% agreed or strongly agreed that ASD educational workshops provided them with relevant resources for growing food.” One of the main advantages expressed by the veterans was the cost-saving benefits and sustainability of having a garden at home.
“The ability to provide for oneself increases my sense of well-being, and gives a little certainty in today’s uncertain times,” one program respondent explained. The two programs provide veterans with practical resources and knowledge to improve their farming skills while fostering a sense of community and purpose. “The Patriot Garden Box is going to run for another two years,” says Veteran Outreach Coordinator of ASD Michael Klarman. “This year we are looking to help over 100 veterans…It’s going to be hopefully bigger and better this year.”
Farming has many benefits to people, including improving health and increasing employability and profitability. Creating a program to support veterans in our community is a noble initiative, and ASD is doing excellent work. I hope to see the program expand and flourish in our region. Many farmers were adversely affected by Hurricane Helene. Donations to ASD for community farmers can be made through its website.
