The PA Veteran Farming Project invites military veterans and their spouses to a Veteran Farm Field Day Saturday, at Hope Hill Lavender Farm in Pottsville from 9 a.m. to noon.

Host farmers Wendy and Troy Jochems will host and speak on their farm and store operation, which includes lavender and honey.

Hope Hill Lavender farm is a certified Pennsylvania Pollinator Garden and also includes an acre of sunflowers.

The Jochems used NRCS technical assistance to plan and install the pollinator garden, as well as conservation best management practices on the farm.

Troy, a United States Marine Corps veteran, will discuss the farm operation, and will be joined by Wendy for Q&A about their popular public tours and events.

Nancy Dusko, Natural Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist, will lead a field walk of the conservation best management practices installed on the farm.

She will be available during the workshop to discuss specifics about programming available to attendees’ farms.

Monica Pape, “The Accidental Agronomist,” is an Army spouse. She works with farmers to promote better understanding of soil tests reports and to help them produce higher yielding crops while saving money and being environmentally responsible.

Monica attended Delaware Valley University and has worked as an agronomist for commercial crop consultant firms and with an environmental remediation company cleaning up Superfund sites.

Attendees are invited to bring their current soil tests for brief consultation with Monica during the workshop.

Following the event, guests are invited to visit the Farm Shop, where they’ll find a wide variety of products using essential oil grown and produced from lavender on the farm, honey products, lavender plants (if still available in August), and made-in-the-USA gifts.

A highlight of any visit to Hope Hill Lavender Farm is meeting the Jochems’ “pet” donkeys, who are well known and loved by Hope Hill Lavender Farms’ social media fans.

This event is presented with financial support from the USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.

For the health and safety of humans and animals on the farm, guests must comply with Hope Hill Lavender Farm policies, which can be found at https://hopehilllavenderfarm.com/our-farm/visit-farm.

Event details and registration information is available at https://www.troopstotractors.org/events.

Direct questions to pavetsfarm@gmail.com or 724-691-1087.