Patriot Garden project
providing raised garden boxes plus Tools, training, support and community to military veterans
Each year, ASD’s Patriot Garden Project provides a select number of military veterans with two raised garden boxes, plus training, tools, supplies, and support – all for free. For 2025, we’ve expanded the program, increasing the number of veteran recipients from 20 to 50! That means we’ll be providing 100 raised garden boxes in total.
How it works: Complete your application by when? Your application will then be reviewed by our Veterans Support team. We will announce the recipient list when? Recipients will be able to pick up their garden boxes and all other items on April 5 during our Patriot Garden Box Day, at our ASD Campus at 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, VA.
Check out the list below for all the details. If you have questions, contact Michael Klarman via email: mklarman@asdevelop.org.
community, support, and
Self-sufficiency, cleverly packaged in a 4×8 garden box.
Program recipients will receive:
- two 4×8 pre-made garden boxes (increased height options are available for anyone needing accessibility considerations)
- automatic inclusion in our Grow Your Own program, which will provide seed, tools, gloves, and a gardening manual
- a Lowe’s gift card to purchase soil
- an ASD “Supporting Veterans” t-shirt
- an ASD “Supporting Veterans” hat
- access to a monthly Veterans Coalition meetings – a networking community to provide support, gardening advice, and share resources
Applicants must reside in the Patriot Garden Box service area, which includes: Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Russell, Washington, Buchanan, Tazewell, Smyth, Grayson, and Wythe counties in Virginia and Hancock, Hawkins, Greene, Washington, Unicoi, Sullivan, and Johnson Counties in Tennessee.
As part of the application process, ASD may assess and select the recipients of the raised beds based on need and location.
how can we best support you?
In 2020, Appalachian Sustainable Development received funding for the USDA Office of Partnership and Public Engagement that allows us to expand all of our programming to reach the Military Veteran community.
As part of our support for the Military Veteran community, ASD provides educational, networking, and financial growth opportunities in agriculture production to all those who aspire to create a viable farming career, but especially to the brave men and women who have served our country.
We want to know how to better serve you. Complete the needs assessment by clicking the button below.
*The Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement develops and maintains partnerships focused on solutions to challenges facing rural and underserved communities in the United States, and connects those communities to the education, tools, and resources available to them through U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and initiatives.
What Do we Offer Veterans?
Various Agriculture Education Opportunities
ASD has many agriculture related educational opportunities for all experience level. Most of these events and programs are FREE to the public. See below for a detailed list.
Networking with Other Local Farmers and Veterans
We participate in various community outreach events and host many educational opportunities that result in networking with other local farmers and veterans in the region.
Volunteer Opportunities within the Community
ASD is a nonprofit with several volunteer opportunities available. From community gardens to assisting the elderly on their farms, we encourage anyone interested to join!
Agriculture Education Opportunities
Agroforestry
Merging conservation and production, by helping local farmers adopt agroforestry practices and market specialty crops.
Appalachian Harvest Food Hub
Providing training, technical support, aggregation and distribution services to local farmers since 2000.
Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub
Providing training, technical support, aggregation and distribution services to local farmers since 2000.
Farmer + Rancher Mentoring
On-farm internship opportunity designed to develop beginning farmers and put them on the path to a successful career in farming.
The Field School
Beginning farmer training program that includes 2 sessions on business planning, finances, and marketing all geared toward helping beginning farmers create sustainable and profitable small farms.
Grow Your Own
Grow Your Own families grow their own fresh, healthy food in a home-based backyard and market gardens. We provide training, technical support, seeds, plants, tools and tilling services.
Veteran Blogs
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Donate to Support Veterans in Agriculture
Meet Trevor Hansard, United States Air Force Veteran. After retirement, he and his family moved to Abingdon, VA to pursue a career in agriculture production. He enrolled in Horticulture courses at Virginia Highlands Community College and has participated in several of ASD’s agriculture education programs. This year, with the assistance of ASD, we were able to hire a videographer to create a promotional video for Red Tail Grove, the Hansard families farm. With your support, we can help other military veterans transitioning to civilian life pursue a successful career in agriculture.
**This video was created with funding received in 2020 from the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.
Contact the Veteran Outreach Coordinator
Michael Klarman
Veteran Outreach Coordinator
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