Growing Veterans

Growing Veterans’(GV) mission is to empower veterans to cultivate purpose and belonging by growing food, communities, and each other. Our vision is to end the isolation that can lead to suicide.  We use our farms in Lynden and Whidbey Island to provide space for veterans, active-duty military, and community members to foster a culture of peer support by cultivating authentic & meaningful connections, building camaraderie, and abolishing the isolation that can lead to suicide.

GV was founded by a combat wounded USMC veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, Christopher Brown, and a former mental health counselor turned farmer, Christina Wolf. Together, they agreed using the farm as the catalyst for human connection and veteran reintegration could have a powerful impact on the health and well-being of not only veterans returning home, but the world.  Growing Veterans received its 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2015 and transformed its “Culture of Peer Support '' into a formal training model currently implemented at both GV farm sites and now available to everyone via our current online format. Since 2015, GV has trained 181 Peer Supporters who have gone on to support over 4,000 veterans and civilians within their respective communities throughout the nation. 

Please register as a volunteer: https://growingveterans.org/volunteer

Led by Post 9/11 vets, we believe in engaging all veterans and community members, sharing the veteran story, forming partnerships, fostering healthy living, strengthening sustainable agriculture, empowering communities to see veterans as allies and assets, and growing the tastiest food you could imagine. Join us!

2021 Impact

• GV’s Dirt Therapy Program was able to donate 3.75 tons of veteran-grown, organic produce to local food banks to combat food insecurity facing our most vulnerable populations.
• We trained 24 new Peer Supporters through our online, accredited, and peer-reviewed Peer Support Training Program. Since 2016, we’ve trained more than 181 peer supporters.

• Avg. of 23 people per Peer Supporter are receiving support within first three months of training

Our vets report:
87% increased purpose & belonging
91% satisfaction in professional & skill development
74% improved communication skills
82% made new friendships
78% getting more physical activity

Register as a volunteer today: https://growingveterans.org/volunteer