Good Stuff - Highlighting People and Organizations in the Environmental Field

I strongly believe that a robust and sustainable food system is vital to food security and economic security in the U.S.  Organizations like the Farmer Veteran Coalition are working toward this goal.  

"The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is to mobilize veterans to feed America. We cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders, and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities.  We aspire to lead the national effort connecting veterans to agriculture.  We believe that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems for all.  We believe that food production offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits."

I first learned about this organization through a profile of one of their Farmer Veterans, Kelly Carlisle - "After serving as an Operations Specialist in the US Navy and Navy Reserve, Kelly returned home to East Oakland, CA where she found gardening to have a therapeutic effect.  In August of 2010, Kelly founded Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project, a non-profit urban farm that focuses on serving at-risk youth from kindergarten to 8th grade, and their families. Childhood obesity and school dropout rates are abnormally high in East Oakland; Acta Non Verba’s mission is to utilize urban farming as a catalyst to increase the standard of living for inner city youth."

The soldier to farmer movement has been highlighted in the media, including this great article from the NY Times (February 5, 2011) - Helping Soldiers Trade Their Swords for Plows

“The military is not for the faint of heart, and farming isn’t either,” said Michael O’Gorman, an organic farmer who founded the nonprofit Farmer-Veteran Coalition, which supports sustainable-agriculture training. “There are eight times as many farmers over age 65 as under. There is a tremendous need for young farmers, and a big wave of young people inspired to go into the service who are coming home.”

"Matthew McCue, 29, formerly Sergeant McCue, runs Shooting Star CSA outside San Francisco with his partner, Lily Schneider, delivering boxes of organic produce directly to consumers.  He recalled how orchard farmers in Iraq pridefully shared their pomegranates, tomatoes and melons.  “You learn how to face death,” he said of his service in Iraq. But in farming, he learned, 'There was life all around.'"