Duty Garden Farming

Common Ground Organic Farm & Veteran Cooperative

www. C G O F .org

A Project of Farm Hands, Inc.

to benefit

Active Duty Military and Military Veteran Communities

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Decompression

War Zone - - - - - - - Zone - - - - - - - - Home Zone

War may be Hell. Coming home does not have to be worse!

Farm Hands’ executive director, Robert Bornt, MFT, has successfully developed and demonstrated a non-traditional model-of-care to combat “Combat Operational Stress” and the resulting injury clinically diagnosed as “PTSD”. The effects of untreated PTSD are now known to be creating rampant chaos for members of our military and veteran communities!

Mr. Bornt, a 3rd generation farmer and psychotherapist, has utilized ongoing advice to continually evolve the model-of-care. Mentors include Drs. Panksepp and Van Der Kolk - leading neuroscientists specializing in trauma treatment, collaborative veteran healthcare agencies, Marine Chaplains, a Marine Corps Major General, active duty Marine COs, NCOs, and OIF/OEF warriors themselves. These are the Marines who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The model includes “The Triage Method” therapeutic process as the foundation for activities in an emotional safe, reorienting environment. Activities provide what current neuroscience research defines as the critical components of trauma treatment; rest for the warrior’s primary nervous system, development of intrinsic trust, and the regeneration of a sense of purpose through education and productivity.

A 2008 study by the think tank RAND estimates 19% of our current warriors have possible brain injury (TBI) with nearly 20% affected by PTSD. And, according to RAND 57% of those with probable TBI or PTSD have not been evaluated by a physician.

The relationship between the effects of war and long-deployment trauma, and suicide, homelessness and long-term mental suffering is well documented. The current rate of military and veteran suicide, divorce, social violence and addiction is escalating. Most importantly, current systems of care are shown to be overwhelmed, inefficient and lacking funding - leaving thousands of individuals and families at risk to long term, needless suffering.

The model-of-care has been successfully demonstrated with over 60 Marines, veterans and military families at the current program called Operation Recovery. The model-of-care is now positioned to expand and serve hundreds of active duty, veterans and their families through a financially sustainable program called, The Common Ground Organic Farm and Veteran Cooperative. Mr. Bornt has a lease-option and an opportunity to purchase the ideal property for the expansion – a 70-acre farm with existing residences and infrastructure within 40 miles of downtown San Diego and 28 miles from Camp Pendleton.

The potential of the veteran farm cooperative has generated collaborative interest from Camp Pendleton Marine Corps command and Chaplains, Balboa Hospital ASYMCA, Alliant University, Palomar Collage, the VA PTSD clinic and many other local and national veteran service agencies. The farm will provide a safe, familiar decompression zone, immediate veteran employment, veteran short-term housing, and peer-to-peer treatment training and veteran micro-enterprise development.

These micro-enterprises will be veteran designed and implemented for their benefit and the benefit of the community. The farm is ideal for the development of special programs for other groups, which might benefit in the serene environment. For example: Horse Wisdom and Ivy Ranch are both collaborating horse therapy programs that work with Wounded Warriors, autistic and handicapped children. Veterans will assist in implementing and managing their program outreach at the Common Ground Farm. With adequate collaboration veterans might design and manage many other day or weekend camp style programs for disadvantaged children and their caregivers. The farm’s production and (proposed) commercial kitchen capacity might provide meals for the needy or special delivery programs, and food/nutrition education and training. The possibilities are expandable through community collaboration – once the farm is secured!

Structurally, the veteran farm cooperative offers an opportunity for the community to invest in “Supporting our Troops” where the investment creates an ongoing business potential for the re-generation of capital for veteran programs. The veterans will gain experience and build self-potential by giving back to the community through micro-enterprises. Corporations and community organizations can expand their community giving by sponsoring the veteran micro-enterprises!

This includes an opportunity to purchase prime real estate in the center of an upscale, incorporated North San Diego County community. The property has a recent bank appraisal of $6,400,000 and may have lucrative future development potential.

Creative financing of the purchase could collateralize and finance the for-profit business and veteran service programs. The farm business requires a “seed money” investment of $250,000. The farm plan is to capitalize on the production and sale of fresh organic farm produce and protein (meat, fish and eggs) in the rapidly expanding “Local Harvest” direct-to-consumer market. Direct distribution - centered on a “Support your Veteran” campaign, has the potential to generate significant profitability for the business.

Once on the ground with activities, the plan is to generate $80,000 from corporate sponsors to initiate the development of veteran micro-enterprise education and training. This program is expected to secure the potential for government grant and contract awards specifically for the non-profit’s programs of veteran re-integration, job/career development, and housing and treatment. These grants and contracts are potentially worth several million dollars over the next five years.

Projections are for the for-profit farm business to show profitability within the first 15 months with net earnings of $587,000. Three-year estimates are to realize over $2.7 million dollars in net earnings from a combined (for-profit & non-profit) income of $7.7 million. This potential is delineated in the pro forma and business plan.

The project requires an immediate source of $60,000 to secure the lease/purchase option. Once on the ground and operational (limited) the capital and credit to purchase the 65-acre property for - approximately $6,400,000 will be secured through extensive collaborations.

The farm business requires a total of $250,000 to initiate full production activities. Complete business plan and pro forma are available and show income over the first 15 months to cover payments on this business loan.

Once operational the micro-enterprises aspect requires corporate sponsorship for up to six veteran micro-enterprises. Funding is expected to be part of the veteran’s business development education and training.

The extended veteran service programs require up to $1,000,000 in operational funding for the development of an outreach and intervention program. This money is expected to come from government grants and contracts once farm and service activities are on the ground. A complete Veteran Program proposal & pro forma are available.

Your support is critical. Please consider joining our efforts to fund and organize the Common Ground Farm and it many programs. Hundreds of active duty military, military veterans, and their families have the opportunity to participate in treatment for war related stress, PTSD and their expression. Plus, mental health professionals from the community of veteran service providers will have the opportunity to gain training in PTSD treatment. Together, they can support additional warriors in the field and families in their home communities.

Your contribution has long-term national potential!

Contact:

Robert K. Bornt, MFT

Executive Director

Farm Hands, Inc. - a California 501 (C)(3) non-profit corporation

Project Director dba

Common Ground Organic Farm & Veteran Cooperative

P.O. Box 246

Oceanside, CA 92049

310-625-3366

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1036473531&ref=profile

Profile - Bob Bornt

Group - Common Ground Organic Farm

Cause - Transforming Military PTSD Treatment

Donation:

Tax-deductible to a 501 (C)(3) non-profit – Farm Hands, Inc. Ein # 33-0786733

About the Author

Psychotherapist / farmer

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