CHARLESTON, W.Va. –
The West Virginia Military Authority’s Patriot Guardens program is helping veterans and currently military members with start-up farming operations.
Earlier this week, recipients of Patriot Guardens’ “Supporting Veterans, Active Military and Their Families in Agriculture” project were provided supply packages valued at $500 in materials to help with current or start-up farming operations.
Distribution took place at the Patriot Guardens Urban Farm, located at the Kanawha Institute for Social Research and Action (KISRA) site in Dunbar, West Virginia.
“This money gave us the opportunity to provide resources to our military population without restricting what it could be used for,” said Melissa Stewart, Patriot Guardens program director. “We were able to use it in the manner that best fit their needs.”
Last May, Patriot Guardens was awarded a $12,000 grant by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) to provide direct assistance to veterans, active military and their families to expand their current agricultural enterprises or to begin production of new on-farm, value-added products for home use or sale into the local market. The grant was issued under the WVDA Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program.
Patriot Guardens used the monies to fund 24 $500 awards, distributed to program participants through an application process. There were 63 applicants for the supply packages in the areas of aquaculture, cut flower production, livestock operations and raised bed gardens.
The Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Grant Program was developed to provide funding to organizations around the state who work directly with or provide support to law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical service, first responders, veterans, active-duty military, and/or their spouses and family within an agricultural capacity.
The Patriot Guardens Urban Farm at KISRA is located at 131 Perkins Avenue, Dunbar, West Virginia. To learn more about Patriot Guardens, follow the Facebook page at Facebook.com/PatriotGuardens or email patriotguardensoffice@gmail.com.