“This place [Veterans Urban Farm] has all the best parts that I miss about being in uniform. Everyone is looking out for each other and I can just be myself.”
By Veterans, For Veterans
CCUA’s origin story has Veteran roots. One of CCUA’s founding board members, Billy Froeschner, is an Army Veteran. Billy valued the notion of service to country and community, so he began volunteering with CCUA in 2008. At that point, he was enrolled at Mizzou, and had recently come back from being deployed in Iraq.
“In the Army, if I was feeling scared or stressed, I just filled more sandbags. So back in Missouri, I needed something to do. Between school and CCUA, I kept busy.” He was a carpenter in the Army, so Billy was a natural leader when we needed to build some sheds at the Urban Farm back in 2010. The first two sheds were built with 100% salvaged lumber. Billy and others would scour construction dumpsters for 2x4s, plywood, siding, and anything else they could get their hands on. He also had a big truck and helped haul hundreds of tons of compost to the new site.
A few years ago Billy moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and it was a difficult transition for him. “If I moved to Madison right after coming back from Iraq, not knowing anyone and having nothing to do, I’d be homeless by now.” Being involved with CCUA helped Billy keep busy, made him feel appreciated, and allowed him to think creatively. Ten years after the sheds were built, the Urban Farm became the Veterans Urban Farm. Billy found out the site was being used for work therapy with Veterans. You could see the lightbulb go off above his head. “Hm, work therapy, that is exactly what CCUA was for me back then.”
Gardening as therapy for Veterans
In 2020, the Urban Farm became Mark and Carol Stevenson Veterans Urban Farm. CCUA’s headquarters was moving to Columbia’s Agriculture Park, and we wanted to give the Urban Farm a new special purpose. We developed a partnership with the Truman VA Hospital, Missouri Foundation for Health, and Veterans United so that this already-operating farm could become safe and supportive community space for Veterans experiencing the challenges of returning to civilian life after military service.
On a typical spring day you might see some of our Veteran apprentices planting veggies in the garden, feeding chickens, building a fence, or planting a tree. All of the produce grown at the Veterans Urban Farm is distributed to local Veterans first–"Veterans growing for Veterans." One apprentice told us, “Even though we work really hard, it’s rewarding and you can see that we actually accomplish something worthwhile. You can’t say that about a lot of jobs.”
The VA is looking for more non-clinical spaces to support its 40,000 patients. If you’ve ever been to the hospital complex near College and Stadium, you know it is a sea of concrete, asphalt, and tall buildings. Our little pocket of green space is just two miles down the road from the VA Hospital. The farm is a great healing environment for Veterans, free of white coats and fluorescent lighting. The Veterans Urban Farm makes it more comfortable for our Veterans to open up to their peers.
CCUA’s Veterans Program continues to grow as we expand our reach through community events and new partnerships. As the pandemic loosens its hold, we look forward to supporting Veterans in new ways and using the Veterans Urban Farm as a way to continue healing the wounds of war.
Supporting Veterans outside of the hospital
“I can just relax and be myself at the farm, and say what’s on my mind without worrying about somebody putting it in my medical file.”
