VOA慢速英语2010年-Agriculture Report

For American soldiers, the move from the military to civilian¹ life is not always easy. Military veterans have a thirty-five percent unemployment rate. This is more than three times the national average. And an estimated one hundred thousand veterans are homeless. The federal government and private organizations offer programs to help veterans. One private program is called Archi’s Acres. It is on a two hectare farm in southern California.

Marine² Sergeant³ Colin Archipley returned to the United States after serving three tours of duty in Iraq. He and his wife, Karen, bought a farm in southern California. They produce organic, hydroponic crops. They grow their tomatoes, lettuce⁴ and basil in pure water instead of in soil.

Karen Archipley says her husband wanted to share the peace he found on his farm with other veterans. So the Archipleys worked with the local Veterans Administration office. They wanted to help returning troops translate their leadership skills to private business. Archi’s Acres is helping⁵ combat veterans become agricultural business owners.

COLIN ARCHIPLEY: “We have these very young leaders that with just some new hands-on skills, some new training, can make very productive workers and very efficient leaders.”

Next month, Colin Archipley is expanding his program to teach business skills. And he plans to include active troops who are ending their service. He notes that many veterans suffer from post traumatic stress disorder⁶. This is made worse when they cannot find jobs and become homeless. He believes that the rate of PTSD would drop if soldiers could spend their last few months in the military learning skills so they could get jobs.

Marine Sergeant Colin Archipley established Archi's Acres to help ease veterans back into normal life

In his new six-week program, Colin Archipley will teach agricultural skills from planting to harvest. Karen Archipley will teach marketing⁷. Educators from the Small Business Administration are also involved. They will teach classes on how to operate a business.

Colin Archipley does not expect veterans completing the program will have any problems finding work. He hopes to expand his program to serve veterans on the East Coast. He is also planning to make his six-week course available online so anyone in the military, anywhere, can take the classes.

COLIN ARCHIPLEY: “We think the veteran community is perfect to fill in these jobs where growers are reaching retirement⁸ and nobody’s filling their spots. Or to learn the equipment so they can distribute it throughout the United States and they can feel the satisfaction of being part of an entity⁹ that feeds America.”

And that’s the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. You can find our scripts and audio at voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Shirley Girffith.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

4 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。