Each year Jefferson County holds a Veterans Stand Down Day, hosted by Voices for Veterans.  Peace Patch Farm will be there, looking for veterans interested in working in the gardens and support and feedback from the community.

The following is an excerpt from the Peninsula Daily News article on this event:

"PORT TOWNSEND — Free services for veterans ranging from haircuts to employment services will be offered at the Jefferson Veterans Stand Down on Monday.

The stand down, hosted by Voices for Veterans, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.

It is open to all veterans, especially those who are homeless or in need, and their families."

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130727/NEWS/130729974/stand-down-slated-in-port-townsend-for-veterans-on-monday

I will post a report and photos after the event.  If you are attending the Stand Down, please stop by the Peace Patch Farm table.

Peace Patch Farm

located in Port Townsend, Washington

The Vision

The founders of the Teen Peace Project and Vet Connect are joining together to create an agricultural training program for military veterans.  

The program will allow veterans to practice and hone skills learned through WSU's "Sustainable Agricultural" program.   Current plans will start with one veteran and increase to serve 8 or more veterans each year. 

Peace Patch Farm will use Organic, sustainable practices to grow food and flowers.

Peace Patch Farm Goals:

Growing food to support the local food bank and soup kitchen program at the Boiler Room

Growing fields of flowers and herbs to sell locally to sustain the veterans agricultural program

Growing peaceful gardens for the educational retreat programs provided by the Teen Peace Program

Peace Patch Farm Will Provide:

•Housing for vets in the program
•Agrotherapy- Physical and emotional healing through work in a supportive, agricultural setting

•We hope to find funding to pay farm interns.  Please contact Peace Patch Farm if you have information about grants that can help this program grow.

•Supportive working environment for workers with PTSD and disabilities.

Washington State University Jeff. Co. - arrangements have been made for reduced tuition fees for veterans working at Peace Patch Farm

Food Co-op - has indicated willingness to carry Peace Patch Farm products

Needs:

Funding for paying wages to veterans and program staff  
Scholarships for agriculture education

Volunteers to help build fencing, garden  
Meeting Space and Equipment Storage Shed

Greenhouse to extend flower growing season  
Gardening implements

Materials to build accessible raised garden beds, deer proof fencing, and watering system

Staff
Peace Patch Farm will have two part time staff.  Liz Rivera Goldstein is the owner of Peace Patch Farm and will be the administrator for the peace education and  garden program.  Bob Logue will work as farm manager.   Bob brings his experience as founder of Vet Connect and as a master gardener to help us serve veterans working in the garden.

Peace Patch Farm is currently researching becoming a nonprofit.  Donations are currently NOT tax deductable, but greatly appreciated.

Liz and her husband, Dan Goldstein are preparing the garden.  We hope to bring in our first veteran in early 2014.

For more information contact:  

Liz Rivera Goldstein     liz(at)teenpeace.org  

360-379-9094

*Please use the @sign to send an email.  

You can follow our blog at www.peacepatchfarm.blogspot.com

Background

In 2004, LIz Rivera Goldstein dreamed of a peace education center set in a beautiful garden.  Her career as a peace educator and activist led to organizing and lecturing in the US, Canada and Italy.  Because she was on the road for several years, she put the peace education center plan on a shelf, and hung the drawing of the garden design in her living room.  Nine years later, she has begun to make this dream come true. Realizing that having veterans help to build the  peace garden was the missing necessity to make Peace Patch Farm a reality, she has begun laying the groundwork, reaching out to the community to create a program that will "turn swords into ploughshares".  She hopes that those who work in the garden can find peace and healing, along with skills to start their own farming project or find  work on a farm so veterans can support themselves and their families.