Many military veterans are reestablishing themselves on a farm after leaving the military. Veteran Chris Brown, for example, has found healing through vegetable gardening. While gardening might not seem like a natural choice for many, it can be a transformative experience. With 1.5 million service members expected to leave the military within the next few years, many veterans are seeking a new life by returning to farming.
Clark’s career took him away from farming
Despite his early success in sport, Clark’s career took him away from farming. He later became a forage product manager for the Dairyland Seed Co. He also spent some time in the army. While in the service, Clark was accused of drunkenness, which forced him to resign. Later, he moved to the frontier in Indiana. He never got full reimbursement for his wartime expenditures from Virginia, and during his final decades, he worked to avoid creditors. He also suffered a stroke and lost part of his right leg.
John McMillan’s spine injury
John McMillan was back to farming full-time less than four months after his spine injury. His recovery is credited to the spine care he received from Dr. Andrew J. Pugely. The physician fused five vertebrae in his spine. Usually, it takes years to recover from such an injury.
Mark’s desire to be on a farm
When Mark is young, he has always dreamed of being on a farm. He is surrounded by the sights, smells, and sounds of a rural setting. But as his ambition for a family grows, he begins to have doubts about his ability to be a father. In order to help him, he turns to his father, Ephraim. Ephraim tells his son that he will never be able to own the farm unless he conceives a son.
In 1991, Mark sold the cows to focus on growing crops. He also began working with the land’s soil. This was the beginning of Pinicon Farm, which was formalized in 1991.
Darin Williams’ return to farming
In 2010, Darin Williams began a return to farming after nearly 15 years away. He is growing a mix of crops on 2,000 acres with cover crops and no-till farming methods. These practices keep more rain water in the soil. As a result, Darin Williams’ farm uses much less fertilizer and herbicide. That saves him $20 to $40 per acre.
He was 35 years old when he was killed. The accident left his wife and three children without him. In addition to his farm, Darin and Teresa owned a bar in Jamestown, a video store, and a farm where Darin’s grandparents lived. The couple had been separated for a few years, but they remained in touch. In the fall of 1997, Teresa began a relationship with Danny Shaw and Darin met Shawna Harshbarger. They planned to get married in December 1998.