Work with military? US Navy Training Station Great Lakes IL

Hey. I am in the Navy waiting to go to more technical training in Virginia. However gardening is my passion and I think about it constantly. And I plan to save all my money to buy a farm someday. I have been waiting weeks but I finally got a meeting with the Command Master Chief here at Naval Training Station Great Lakes to discuss planting a garden here on base. He is like the head fellow in charge here and my petty officers and fellow sailors seem to think it is a good idea. We have acres of unused land here on base and my mind reels with the possibilities. I hope I can communicate some of these to my command Monday when we have a meeting. I am looking for people in the area who would be willing to work with us if I can get something in the ground next season. Local restaurants, sources of organic fertilizer, professional farmers, ect. Anyone who can get on board with us and make excellent things happen here in Northern Illinois. Also want to discuss the possibilities if something like the WPA could get going again. Think of what a literal army of gardeners with a massive budget could do for this country...

Hey, just an update. I met with the CMC today and MC and they are totally on board with the project! Told me to write up a couple point papers and I think I will make a power point. A small plot is definitely in the cards. But it is also going up the chain of command. Who knows, we could get funding from Washington to do aquaponics or roof gardens ect. Hoping this will be the seed for a major change in the way the Navy runs bases ect. Will know more in a week.

swords to ploughs! conrats!

In the UK there have been attempts to give folks gardens instead of pills to combat stress and post traumatic stress . This could be a good selling point and help some of your comrades . Plus improve their nutrition Bees also could be good in this role .
Also give guys about to leave the service a new out looks on life and reduce costs on site
I first of all thought of Hadrians Wall in the UK . One of the current therories is that it was built to give solders something to do while the border was peaceful .

David