Help Veterans Heal and Give Back Through Farming

I am writing this on behalf of my good friend and Navy Veteran, Kyle Townsend. I met Kyle in horticulture classes a few years ago after an introduction from a mutual friend. Kyle served his country as an active-duty Navy Corpsman, providing combat medicine and treatment to Marines while in Afghan, as well as stateside. A posting he served more than honorably to ensure his comrades made it home safe. He has worked with hundreds of service members and healthcare professionals, often managing stressful situations for the benefit of others. Kyle has also worked as a first responder for his local fire department for almost a decade, spending a number of those years as an Officer.

Upon honorable discharge and despite managing several chronic medical conditions, Kyle returned home to New York and continued to serve his community by going on to earn his Bachelors of Nursing, working in the medical field for 14 years cumulatively. Now, in this phase of life, Kyle is moving on to his next project for the greater good, and it has the potential to help a LOT of people. It's clear to anyone who knows him that he never stops giving of himself to help other people, friends and strangers alike.

Kyle and I became friends and colleagues almost immediately as he began to share his vision of building a small ‘regenerative agriculture’ farm, orchard, and forest reserve with me. The farm would be a sanctuary that could not only grow food and medicinals, but also ecosystems; a place that would be able to feed healthy organic food to hundreds of our neighbors, while simultaneously helping to save the environment and battle climate change. And as if it didn’t sound like enough of a dream already, Kyle went on to tell me that the Farm and Forest Reserve would use any resources it is able to acquire in its operations to provide vocational training and wellness services to veterans in need. There was no way that I could resist the opportunity to be a part of something so monumental, so in the spring of 2020 I signed on to the project to put my degree to use as Kyle’s lead horticulturist.

For nearly three years now, with Kyle in the lead, we have been planning this project and funding its progress with our personal money, often exhausting ourselves by working multiple jobs to make it work. We knew building a multifaceted farm from the ground up was never going to be an easy task, but in the face of the economic challenges of the last few years, it has only become more challenging. So now I am writing you this letter to humbly request that you consider a donation to my friend Kyle’s farm and forest reserve. Any contribution, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated and incredibly humbling.

Very Gratefully,

Mitchell D. Gunther

Alright, so now that I've told you about us, it's time for a little more information about the farm itself. I think with a little more detail about the plans that are many years in the making, it will be easier to see just how impactful your donation could be.

The vision for a thriving micro farm and market is far-reaching. ‘Swiftwater: Organic Farmstead & Reserve’ will practice natural farming, using only 100% organic methods, sourcing everything as close to home as possible. We have already tested a highly successful composting program that reduces the landfill input and carbon output of local nurseries and restaurants. Our farm will grow in passive solar hoop-houses, no-till field plots, and a perennial ‘food forest;’ all designed with the guiding principles of Permaculture: “Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share.” Furthermore, we will not be using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, protecting the health of our patrons, enabling our natural ecosystems, and keeping harmful chemicals out of the environment.

Next, and equally as important as the growing of food and ecosystems, are the people we work with and produce for. We are quite confident in being able to sustainably cultivate the highest quality produce, but our ability to be a part of the community could be much greater than that. We estimate that the farmstead will create five full-time jobs by its third year in operation, with many more seasonal positions created as well. In addition, we have established channels that will allow us to help train veterans to farm for themselves, and host interns from Niagara County Community College’s horticulture program. With the installation of the food forest, space for community education, and a general store in a rehabilitated barn from the 1860s, Swiftwater will be a place of not only agriculture, but also learning, agro-tourism, and community engagement.

Perhaps the most important aspect of our farm is that we plan to make it a safe space and a dedicated hub for wellness services. Because our founder is a medical professional and a combat veteran, we believe strongly in the potential benefits of hosting meetings, providing vocational training, and improving one’s connections to the earth. For the veteran community dealing with a variety of issues, both mental and physical, these services can be invaluable in helping them to live meaningful lives. Beyond growing food and herbal medicinals, we are community builders and mental health advocates who believe that a small farm can make a big impact. Swiftwater would like to be a part of creating healthy and safe conversations and spaces for this culture to develop.

What Will Your Donations Go Toward?

We need a whole gang of seeds, saplings, and shrubs to bring the farm alive!

Transport for the family tractor that will do all our heavy lifting

Soil testing and organic inputs for growing beautiful produce

Materials to build walk-in cold storage and keep things cool

Fencing to keep our deer friends from grazing on the good stuff

Hand tools and equipment to help us be efficient every day

And so much more!

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