It’s almost impossible to live and work in and around eastern Dayton, Ohio and not experience the community impact of the Wright-Patterson Air Force base. All in, the base employs more than 30,000 people, including military families, civilians, and contractors.

“My mother worked at the base when I was growing up, so I knew a lot of people who were active military or who worked there,” says Patrick Jackson, a GreenCare for Troops volunteer who works with his father Jon developing and servicing high-tech products for lawn care and weed control.

Patrick’s father Jon Jackson started the company, Global Neighbor, Inc., several years ago servicing lawn equipment. In more recent years, the company focused on sales and service of robotic mowers. Jon also worked on developing an equipment concept that would fertilize and spot spray weeds on a mower platform. Although that effort did not pan out, Jon and Patrick continued to pursue big ideas, eventually commercializing a technology called WeedErase that can spot-kill a weed with concentrated light.

But during all this research and development, the father-son team have found time each summer to take on the lawn and landscape care of one military family each season through the GreenCare for Troops program since 2015.

“I’m not sure exactly where my father heard about the program, but he thought it would be great for us to volunteer and take care of someone’s yard while they are deployed overseas,” says Patrick. “It’s literally just my dad and myself, and we’ll just take off a few hours and take care of whatever needs doing in the yard.”

The experiences over the years have been rewarding for the father-son team, and Patrick urges others to serve those who serve their country.

“It’s just a great way to help those who are doing such extraordinary work for our nation,” he adds. “For us, it’s a natural fit.”

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program is Nufarm. Platinum Partners include Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Gold Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel and the Silver Partner is the Propane Education and Research Council