Health & Fitness
Soldiers to Farmers: Working the Land Proves Therapeutic For Veterans
From "combat to cultivation," the Veteran's Agricultural Cooperative at 21 Acres was created to support the development of veteran-owned, self-sufficient, sustainable-farming businesses.
wrote today's 21 Acres post.
It was tradition every Memorial Day when I was growing up to play in the band for the annual Parade. It was also tradition to rush home after, change into work clothes and go help my Dad on his 40-acre “hobby” farm. As “townies” in a small agricultural community in Wisconsin, this wasn’t an unusual ritual in my family. But I never realized at the time, how my father must have valued his farm tasks or how that may have shaped our lives.
My Dad, Wilfred H. Vanderloop, was a veteran. He served in World War II, the 12th Armored Division, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and barely spoke a word about any of it through my childhood. I understood Dad grew up on a dairy farm and that farming was essential to his life, but I did not understand the therapeutic power it may have held on him.
This past year, I had the opportunity to meet several local veterans through the Veterans Agricultural Cooperative (VAC) at 21 Acres. The two organizations are working together with a shared purpose to restore the physical and mental health of veterans well-being, through the practice of farming. From "combat to cultivation," the VAC was designed to support the development of veteran-owned, self-sufficient, sustainable-farming businesses, through employment/career opportunities, and veteran services.
Jonathan Phillips, VAC Program Director, says with endurance, discipline, and readiness, veterans have what it takes to farm. “What veterans bring out of the military is a solid work ethic, leadership skills, and a strong sense of orderliness and discipline to a setting where all involved have a task to perform,” he said. According to Phillips, the Veterans Cooperative recognizes that the hard, physical work encountered on a farm not only offers skills training but holds therapeutic value. "Farm work also appeals to a lot of veterans who often do not want to interact with people,” Phillip says. Being comprised mainly of veterans and their dependents, the VAC realizes the structure that veterans are comfortable with and they are devoted to helping the veteran community make the transition to civilian life. “The notable task of feeding people can be seen as a larger-than-self mission,” he adds.
My fathers experience with his hobby farm for many years unknowingly filled a therapeutic need for him decades ago. Dad didn’t grow food, mostly grain; potatoes a couple of years. After an eight hour day in the factory and every weekend, Memorial Day through late fall, he was connected to the land. And I to him. Picking rocks, driving the tractor, playing in the straw bales and the oats bin, my farm connection was very different than it is today. (Unless Rosy Smit would give me a go on the tractor!) But I certainly better understand my fathers need and joy in his “hobby” and the support we can give to those who have served, not just on Memorial Day, but every day of the year.
About the VAC at 21 Acres:
Currently based on the 21 Acres Farm, the VAC serves active duty service members, veterans, their dependents and the communities in which they live. The VAC is currently looking for additional land to farm within the state of Washington. Contact Jonathan Phillips at jonathan@vetagcoop.org or 206-569-5364. The Veterans Agricultural Cooperative is a non-profit organization obtaining funds through grants, product sales, and contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations. Visit vetagcoop.org for more information.