You have to start somewhere and our garden journey began something like this in March of 2026.

 

Five midnight cherry tomatoes, three banana peppers and twelve leaves of basil.  That was my most recent experience with gardening at my apartment - (each house mate got a pepper and tomato.  I’m sure they are still talking about it.)

 

The Veterans Rally Point Farm (VRPF) garden started with that experience, reading lots of garden books, our own DIY raised beds, and research that was honestly overwhelming.  We landed on grid planting with a water system.  This worked out great!  We started with seeds inside.  I do not recommend this the first year (or maybe it was just us). Onions started to come up…beans…one little tomatillo, all of which perished by April.  Starter plants it was.  I secured lettuce, broccoli, and way more cabbage than anyone would ever need.  This was another lesson learned-always wear your readers when picking out plants “cauliflower” “cabbage”…so close…

 

We planted potatoes, herbs, beans, peas and peanuts…yes peanuts in PA!  Why not?  We nurtured the garden and watched the plants come to life with excitement like watching kids grow “look at that cute little broccoli head!”  We shared our small harvest with other veterans and friends...”everyone gets a cabbage!”  Ok wow, now what?  Late summer planting…we get to do it all again!  Beets, radishes, melon...more beans...We can do this!

 

We have had failed crops-yes…but we have had more successes, even in the failures.  There are few things as satisfying as eating your own potatoes, onions, peas, and cabbage...lots of cabbage.  We have learned so much already in this first year: bugs, planting/growing seasons.  We watched other veterans find joy in helping weed, water and harvesting.  And that’s what it's all about…

 

There is something about getting your hands in the dirt...grounding the basic nourishment of the mind and spirit…providing a part of our existence…how cool is that?  Keep an eye out for peanut harvest!  Off to eat some ahhhh...cabbage...”

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 Come join us as we grow together!