The Healing Garden program at Valor Ranch aims to provide year-round access to healthy organic food through a community garden and thirty-five training classes for up to 300 veterans & community members. The program focuses on five main groups: military-connected individuals, elderly, adults, youth and 5,000 families in North Texas.
Individuals will work together, learning aquaponic and hydroponic gardening skills, fostering social connections, and experiencing the rewards of growing their own food. The program's goals are to improve physical and mental health, provide food security, and offer a sense of purpose. By training individuals in sustainable gardening practices, the program aims to reduce suicide rates and empower veterans and individuals to manage similar projects in their communities, giving them a renewed sense of purpose.
Valor Ranch is seeking support for the aquaponics garden for veterans and the community. To execute this project, Valor Ranch is collaborating with Veterans Produce, a local nonprofit that builds aquaponic community gardens to feed homeless and food-insecure veterans.
Veterans Produce is a veteran-owned nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating veteran hunger due to food insecurity. Together, we will help break the cycle of food insecurity by empowering veterans to provide for themselves. Building a community garden at Valor Ranch enables year-round access to exceptionally healthy organic food. Veterans and community members will work alongside each other, learning new skills and experiencing the rewarding nature of farming, growing healthy organic food by their own hands.
During the winter of 2023, we made significant strides by utilizing the garden for four months. We were able to provide fresh produce to over 1,200 families, with a vision to extend this support to over 5,000 families annually. This project initially involved converting two 20’ x 30’ Quonset huts into an aquaponic and hydroponic community garden. The resulting system, configured with eight 10' x 7' Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) raft beds, each producing 150 plants (1,200 plants total) and harvesting 240 plants per week, generated enough produce to feed all residents of Valor Ranch, with a surplus available for the North Texas Food Bank.
The closure of the Quonset hut garden due to extreme Texas heat, lack of insulation, and weathered covering underscores the urgent need for the Healing Garden construction.
Looking ahead, the completion of the Healing Garden will pave the way for future programming for up to three hundred veterans and community members. Training will be provided through a dedicated volunteer woman veteran certified in aquaponic gardening. This individual will play a crucial role in educating other veterans, community members, and Valor Ranch residents on aquaponic and hydroponic gardening and maintenance, enabling them to sustain the existing garden and manage similar projects in their own communities.
Our ultimate prayer is for veterans and individuals to transition from pain to purpose, each crafting a new chapter of service and empowerment.
Sustainability:
We have several plans to sustain operations and maximize impact beyond the award period:
1. Solar Energy Savings: The installation of the solar system will significantly reduce our energy costs, allowing us to allocate more funds towards program activities and maintenance.
2. Fish Production: As the fish outgrow the garden tanks, they will be moved to the ranch pond where they will continue to spawn. This will provide a continuous supply of fish for the garden and a food source for veterans, reducing the need for additional purchases.
3. Community Engagement: We plan to engage the local community through volunteer opportunities, workshops, and events. This will not only raise awareness but also foster a sense of ownership and support for the garden.
4. Donor and Sponsor Engagement: We will maintain strong relationships with our donors and sponsors, providing regular updates on the garden's progress and impact. This will encourage continued support and potential future funding.
These strategies will help ensure the long-term sustainability and success of our garden program, allowing us to continue making a positive impact on the lives of veterans and the community.
Valor Ranch is a successful nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of veterans and the community. We have demonstrated our ability to effectively manage restricted funds, having raised $40,000 of the $120,700 specifically designated for the Healing Garden project. This initiative has already made a significant impact, and with your sponsorship, we can further our mission of providing educational programming and meaningful support to those in need.
By expanding and improving our garden, we aim to increase our capacity to provide training, education, resources, advocacy, and fresh produce to even more families in need. By investing in this program, you will not only be supporting the growth of our aquaponic garden but also empowering our veterans and community to thrive.
Your donation of any amount will play a crucial role in supporting Valor Ranch's ongoing efforts to empower veterans and serve the underserved community. We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with you and create a lasting partnership that will positively impact the lives of those we support.
