Battle Buds

A leadership & wellness community alleviating loneliness & food insecurity.

Battle Buds connects military and civilian families to grow food for people facing food insecurity.

Our leadership & wellness community brings veterans and nonveterans together to grow food for people in need. Along the way, Battle Buds grow closer to each other, nature, and themselves through the healing power of gardening.

Applications are currently closed, but please fill in the form for future cohorts!

 Here’s how Battle Buds Works

Solving for loneliness & food insecurity

Step 1: Gardening Principles

Former professional athlete and gardening expert Lee Hightower III guides veterans, military spouses, and high schoolers on the basics of gardening through a robust curriculum centered on PfP’s three pillars: Wellness, Connectedness, and Social Entrepreneurship. Lee guides the group through weekly sessions and follows up with the group to check in on the growth of the plants — and the group. Lessons include Introduction and Growing an Herb Garden, Vegetable Gardening Basics, and Social Entrepreneurship with Rejuvenation.

 

Step 2: Wellness

Our Yoga Coach leads the group in yoga, breathing, and meditation, working with the group on connecting self-care with nature and entrepreneurship. Each session includes breath work to attune the group to their environment and invest time in nurturing relationships through active listening, empathy, and mutual support to create a fertile ground for personal and community growth.

 

Step 3: Growing Together

Battle Buds build long-term bonds, bridging the military-civilian divide through mutual support, collaboration, and understanding how social entrepreneurship can drive community and environmental well-being. Over time, the group nurtures relationships as they do their garden — with care, attentiveness, and commitment.

Finally, we donate the food we grow to people in need.

Food insecurity is an epidemic.

47 million

…people in America face food insecurity.

7.2 million children

…live in households facing food insecurity.

 
 

We are here to flip the script. Together.

Loneliness is an epidemic.

1 in 5 adults

…feel lonely in the U.S.

50%

…of returning veterans report a loss of purpose.

 
 

We are here to flip the script. Together.

Our Patriotic Vision

To offer our wellness, connectedness, and social entrepreneurship programs in all 50 states, supporting military families and young people from coast to coast.