Healing Vets through Sustainable Farming: The Farmer Veteran Coalition

The Farmers Veteran Coalition offers employment training and places to heal for America’s veterans on American farms. Returning veterans need employment and often, a calm place to go, while the older generation of farmers are retiring, leaving the land unworked.The Coalition serves as a clearinghouse for training, and works to connect veterans with ways to finance their agricultural education along with farm- and food-related job opportunities.

Farm work resembles military work: it is physically challenging, demands flexible hours and immense self-discipline. Veterans find work that enables them to continue serving their country in a meaningful way. Founder Michael O’Gorman worked organic farming for 40 years. The father of a young veteran, he was inspired to create the coalition when he read a report about the number of veterans who come from rural communities.

One veteran runs a CSA farm with his partner near Fairfield, California. He says, “We went into the military because it was hard. Farming challenges everything I have every day. That’s a good thing.”

Too often, vets come home with trauma and lack of employment opportunities. O’Gorman notes, “We thought, not only can we help them find jobs, new ways to farm and rejuvenate the income in real America, we could also help solve America’s need for more farmers and food security.”
Michael O’Gorman talks about founding FVC in this video:

Take action
The FVC is looking for veterans who would like to enter the sustainable farming industry and looking for farmers or other food industry workers seeking dedicated employees. Concerned citizens are invited to support their mission with donations here.

Photo source: Farmer Veteran Coalition, www.farmervetco.org

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Danuta W.

3:18AM PDT on Jul 7, 2011

Thanks for sharing.

send a green star

Rumana A.

8:20AM PST on Dec 9, 2010

Help veterans and all those who have served our country so well find jobs today! Please spread the word. Take 2 minutes and click on our page and use the "Suggest to Friends" button on the left to invite all your friends to help veterans find jobs! www.facebook.com/chooseveterans and www.chooseveterans.com

8:16AM PST on Dec 9, 2010

Barbara E.

3:53PM PST on Nov 26, 2010

I think this is a great idea; :-)

Past Member .

10:24PM PST on Nov 17, 2010

great idea!

Monique F.

4:08AM PST on Nov 16, 2010

Nice. Better than the stories that the U.S.A. is not good for his veterans. I never understood that. You send people to other countries to fight and if they come back you don´t help them.

Anastasia T.

11:22AM PST on Nov 15, 2010

I hope by whatever farming their doing its ACTUAL FARMING! AS IN vegetable, fruit and plant based nutrition! I just want to see factory farming GO and planet farming COME. Save the animals and the earth. Live vegan.
Youtube.com/AnimalPeaceProject

Lim Y.

12:50AM PST on Nov 15, 2010

ah,agriculture has its virtues...

Lynn A.

8:52AM PST on Nov 14, 2010

Growing things is a healing experience-try it on messed up kids and miracles happen.

Priscilla G.

7:01AM PST on Nov 14, 2010

This is a great idea for everyone involved.