Permanent greenhouse a ‘game-changer’
Hants County’s Veteran Farm Project gets financial boost to rebuild after storm damage
Jessica Miller’s enthusiasm is infectious as she rattles off a list of to-dos at her farm property in Hants County.
The retired sergeant, who served as a medic in the Canadian Armed Forces, can’t wait to begin repairing and transforming the site in order to carry on her mission of “sowing seeds of support” for women veterans.
Miller, who founded the Veteran Farm Project in 2008, recently received some much-needed funding to help repair damaged infrastructure.
“I giggle because there aren’t words to describe what this means to us,” said Miller, beaming in an interview after receiving $28,093.82 from the Royal Canadian Legion’s Nova Scotia Nunavut (NS/ NU) Command.
The farm provides women veterans a safe space in nature where they can connect with others who have similar life experiences.
Last year, the non-profit farm suffered what Miller described as “catastrophic damage.”
Storms hit the property hard, and by the end of 2023, Miller said the main greenhouse and growing spaces were significantly damaged, as well as a pressure tank, a well, and outdoor chicken coop.
FUNDING
On March 16, a cheque presentation was held at the Royal Canadian Legion Hants County branch 009 in Windsor to help support the nonprofit group that provides a safe environment for women veterans transitioning to civilian life after serving in the Canadian Armed Forces or policing sectors while also helping combat food insecurity.
“I look forward to the completion of this most worthy project,” Don Macumber, the president of the NS/NU Command, said when announcing the funding.
He acknowledged “the great work that is being accomplished to assist our veterans, their families and the citizens of various local communities” by the group and noted the positive impact it has had.
“This Veteran Farm Project, in the past, has supported 150 families and nearly 700 individuals throughout the area within our command,” Macumber said.
Darrell Leighton, branch 009 president, shared a similar sentiment.
“Our branch is very proud to support the Veteran Farm Project. It’s right in our neighbourhood … and we’re lucky that we are,” Leighton said.
“The Veteran Farm Project is providing valuable peer support and counselling for the female veterans who participate in their farm food grow programs,” he continued.
“Through their dedicated hard work and efforts, they provide an important source of supplementary food products for some of our branch veterans and veteran members of several other Valley branches.”
Aside from supporting veterans in need throughout Hants County, the farm food baskets are also delivered in Halifax and throughout the Annapolis Valley, including Kingston, Kentville and Wolfville.
“The food baskets help provide good nutritional products to local veteran families who may have some food insecurities due to the ever-increasing food costs and other everyday living expenses,” Leighton said.
In an interview after touring the farm, Leighton commended Miller and those involved for their dedication.
“The project is very, very important to the veterans that we serve and the community members where they live,” said Leighton.
“It’s just important to get it back on track. The damage has been devastating. If we want the program to survive and prosper, we have to help. It’s our duty to make things move forward.”
BIG PLANS
For Miller, the support has been heartwarming – and exactly what’s needed to build back better than before.
“Something that I have been dreaming about having since we started the farm is a four-season greenhouse and proper infrastructure and growing conditions,” said Miller.
With the funding, that’s exactly what she’ll have.
“This is going to be a game-changer for the farm. We’re going to be able to grow right through to Christmas,” she said, smiling.
A ceremonial sod-turning was held March 16, with work slated to start immediately.
“With our ever-changing climate and environment, we couldn’t keep doing what we were doing without a space like we’re building now,” Miller said.
The large, four-season greenhouse will be about 20 feet wide and 102 feet long — about 22 feet longer and three feet wider than the previous structure.
“It’s a permanent structure to the ground, it’s not a high tunnel or a caterpillar tunnel, as some people call it. It is a proper greenhouse,” said Miller.
That means they will be able to grow more food and extend the season, as well as have more space to hold workshops.
“We’ve created a safe, nurturing space for women to participate in workshops and just connect with nature, which is incredibly special, and we don’t have anything like that in the whole country,” Miller said. “We’re the only female veteran organization.”
But she hopes that may change in the future. She believes her project could be a model for other provinces.
Later this year, Miller said they are collaborating with Team Rubicon to have professional women chainsaw operators come and teach a course at the farm.
“Team Rubicon is a great organization. They help with disaster relief,” she said, noting its mainly comprised of police officers and veterans. “They deploy across the country and internationally to help when disasters hit to clear spaces, cut down trees and all that kind of good stuff. We’re partnering with them to do some interesting work.”
While most of the workshops held at the site are for women, there are some that are co-ed and are clearly labelled. Her husband, Steve Murgatroyd, also a retired sergeant who provides peer support and maintenance at the farm, hosts archery workshops that are quite popular.
SPECIAL PROJECT
This spring, Miller is launching an honouring garden aimed at recognizing the contributions of women in the military. She said many of their names have been long forgotten, or never acknowledged.
“We’re really excited to be doing this because honouring and commemorating women is incredibly important right now because Veterans Affairs is recognizing that they haven’t done a good job remembering women,” said Miller. “So we want to build on that and ensure that we can honour as many as possible.”
Miller is teaming up with Emily Armour, of Vancouver, who runs the Music For Veterans Project. Armour’s piano students learn about a woman veteran and write a piece of music dedicated to her. Then, they have the song professionally recorded.
Miller envisions a perennial switchback garden where each plant is dedicated to a specific veteran. A plaque with a QR code will link to a piece created by Armour’s student.
“With that QR code, you click on it and it will bring you directly to the piece of music and information about that veteran. You can hear it played professionally while you’re standing in that space,” she explained.
She foresees the garden continuously growing.
“That’s a forever project.”