In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky
This past Memorial Day I wrote about meeting and talking to Vets at the Amtrak station in Sanford, FL while I waited for the train that would bring me back to Washington, DC. At the time, I ruminated about what a national holiday such as Memorial Day had to say about community.
Today is Veteran’s Day.
Once again I am reflecting on this special day, on the nature of community and what it has to offer us. In thinking about this topic, I stumbled upon a surprising initiative and a real course of action for directing our energy in solving one of our seemingly intractable difficulties during this economic downturn.
The question I asked myself was:
What do Farming, Veterans and Cohousing have in common?
F a r m i n g?
Vets?
Cohousing?
Really?
Really.
Fact: America’s farms are facing a crisis
Fact: The average age of farmers in the U.S. is 55-58 years old
Fact: Two farmers retire for every one new farmer coming into the field (‘cuse the pun).
Fact: While the number of full time or part time farmers is declining the number of farm management jobs is increasing.
Fact: The jobless rate for returning vets age 24-30 years exceeds 30% up from 18% just one year ago. The rate for non-vets in the same age bracket is has improved: 15.3 down from 16.9% in the same time period. For some demographics the statistics in the same age group the unemployment rate is even more dramatic, for instance, 48% for black veterans.
Fact: There is growing support for Consumer Supported Agriculture in the U.S. Consumers seeking diverse and organically grown foods want to support small farms. The debate about global warming has intesified the desire by people for food produced closer to home. The food is fresher, better for you and reduces both energy consumption and environmental degredation.
Fact: SPIN farming (Small Plot INtensive) makes cultivating food on a sub-acre of ground attractive and economical. That’s farming UNDER an acre!
Enter the Farmer-Veteran Coalition whose goal is to mobilize returning vets to feed America. According to Judi Gerber in her post on Care2, November 10, 2011:
FVC helps returning veterans find employment, training and “places to heal on America’s farms.” The garden, or the farm, is a refuge for anyone seeking solace, quiet, reflection, or comfort in difficult times, and researchers have actually found that the right environment–usually one with natural elements–can promote healing.
The group points out that the sustainable farming movement and growing support for local and regional agriculture and small farms will likely mean that there will be an increased need for full-time farmers in the United States.
The FVC works at all levels of farming. The one that has interest for me is the SPIN model utilizing under one acre of ground.
Why?
Because the SPIN model eliminates two of the most expensive parts of farming: vast quantities of land and infrastructure while reducing labor costs.
- SPIN farming can be done anywhere there’s a small plot of land
- It can be done part time, full time, seasonally
- Skills can be easily learned
Why else is it of interest?
Because all communities — urban, surburban or rural — have some postage-size plot of land that can be intensively farmed. Even if your members don’t want to do it … why not allow those who DO want to do it access to your land?
Members in coho communities already support CSA’s by buying from them. Why not either grow food for a CSA or make land available for cultivation by a CSA?
Why not reach out beyond the walls of your community and help returning vets by joining the Farmer-Veteran Coalition? Make a plot of land at your community available to vets to cultivate. You’ll have access to fresh, good food and you’ll be doing an important service for others in the wider community.
Don’t have much land? Talk with the surrounding neighbors — it’s not that difficult to join with others to create a neighborhood garden by joining backyards or parts of backyards. You’ll make friends, generate good will, create the bonds of neighborliness and support and … you’ll get all those fresh veggies!
Are you already “farming” in your community? Do you share land with neighbors? Is your community a member of a CSA? Do you or or your community participate in a community garden? What has been your experience with gardening or “farming” in your cohousing community?
I’m going to be writing more about SPIN farming and cohousing. Stay tuned and see how this form of agriculture can help your community increase the sense of neighborliness among residents, generate good will, provide fresh food for you and others and maybe provide an income stream for your community.
This Veteran’s Day and beyond consider how you can “walk the walk” of living community. Remember those who returning home face challenges of reintegrating into society as well as challenges of finding a job. Maybe there’s a job waiting for them on that “back forty” in your community.
As Garrison Keilor says: Be well. Do good work. And keep in touch.
LINKS
Judi Gerber post on Care2, November 10, 2011
Submitted by: Ann Zabaldo, Partner, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC