It is 2015 and Ohio AgrAbility has caught up with the rest of the world and established its own Facebook page. Click here to visit it. There you will find interesting bits of information, short informative videos, and announcements. Please like and share the page with colleagues, friends and family, and post comments and suggestions. Ohio AgrAbility welcomes everybody's input. Did we mention to share the page with others?
In January, the Ohio AgrAbility Project (OAP) held an initial meeting with multiple partner groups. The goal of this event was to discuss working with veterans with disabilities that are going to the VA and to introduce and instruct them in farming. This group comprised OAP farm members, the OAP team, veterans, medical counselors from the VA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Turner Farms, the city of Cincinnati, the National AgrAbility Project, and the Civic Garden Center. The group is in the early development stages of planning a mission and a vision. It will be meeting again in February to bring discuss research on training curricula for teaching veterans about farming. The team is setting up a plan and goals that will increase the number of veterans with disabilities that farm for a vocation and for therapy.
In January, Sodexo partnered with the National Easter Seals Organization to provide mini grants for disabled farmers. Ohio AgrAbility Program (OAP) presented a veteran farmer that was in need, and that person was awarded $2000 for a hoop house to extend his growing season. OAP is working with Ohio State Extension to assist the member with the selection of the unit, as well as the placement of the unit on his property. This has been an exciting time for the member, and OAP would like to give a huge thanks to Sodexo for their generosity.
Submitted by Andy Bauer