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“Ten years ago, one of our board members started helping neighbors that had military spouses serving abroad. He was caring for their landscapes,” explains Cindy Code, Executive Director for Project EverGreen, a nonprofit that’s focused on serving communities while educating the public on the benefits of green spaces.

“That’s what really started our program, GreenCare for Troops.”

GreenCare for Troops is a national outreach program created by Project Evergreen that connects volunteers with active-duty military families and wounded or disabled veterans to help care for their landscapes.

“It’s a small thing, but it made a big difference,” says a military wife in North Carolina of GreenCare For Troops. “I could never do everything at once, and it’s hard to find time to mow a lawn while juggling our two young children and a dog.”

To date, “we are in all 50 states with 4,000 active volunteers. Over the last ten years, more than 10,000 military families have registered for GreenCare For Troops,” explains Cindy.

“In some regions we have more military registrants than volunteers and vice versa. That’s why it’s important to spread the word to lawn and landscape professionals but also to our military and veteran families.”

Additional Programs: SnowCare For Troops and Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.

In addition to GreenCare For Troops, Project EverGreen has two other national programs: SnowCare For Troops and Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.

SnowCare for Troops is similar to GreenCare For Troops but connects military families and wounded or disabled veterans with professionals in the snow removal business.

Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids. revitalizes community parks and sports fields to promote a more active lifestyle for children and families with the support from local lawn and landscaping companies.

For example, one project for Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids. was to care for Liberty Island, New York.

Twenty-two partnering groups came together to clean up the green space, and the 9/11 Memorial Grove.

“Green spaces generate confidence, pride and connectivity”

The exciting part about Project EverGreen programs is that landscape professionals are able to become more involved in the community and form close relations with their stakeholders.

They also provide the opportunity to educate homeowners and children about the benefits from an environmental, economical and lifestyle perspective on the benefits of caring for green spaces.

“Green spaces generate confidence, pride and connectivity with their peers… people that might never have had a chance to meet without a gathering spot to draw them together,” says Project EverGreen.

“Project Evergreen and its partners understand how green spaces turn houses into homes, side-by-side yards into neighborhoods, and communities into hometowns that residents are proud to call their own.” 

How to get involved

One of our core values is community and we believe that collaborating with others and adding to our tribe provides tremendous value. That’s why Holganix believes in helping in the Project EverGreen mission. We bet you do too.

Ready to get involved? So are we! Holganix will be teaming up with local lawn care companies to care for a recreational field in our community.

How can you help? If you are in the lawn and landscaping industry, grounds management, a superintendent at a golf course, or in the snow removal business, you can volunteer for one of Project EverGreen’s programs here.

Or, donate money or resources to Project EverGreen here.