James Chesebro: A Soldier Whose Mission Continues

James Chesebro opened his full-service landscape business, Your Personal Gardener, in 2012 as a part-time enterprise to help offset the cost of attending night school at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Chesebro was still serving in the U.S. Army at the time as well, with more than a decade of time served for his country.

As the landscape business rapidly expanded, he and his wife Natalie made the choice to go all in on the business and turn their attention to civilian life, and the needs of their growing family and increasing employee ranks. But his respect and admiration for the men and women he served with, and belief in the overall values of the military, have indelibly impacted his approach to running the business.

Your Personal Gardener is a certified veteran-owned small business, and James Chesebro is committed to hiring as many veterans as he can to work for him.

“We have always had veterans working in the company, and I always say, the more the merrier,” says Chesebro. “Unfortunately, there are not a lot of good opportunities for veterans after they leave the service. For my part, I have found that they meet and uphold the values that we look for in our company, and I am always looking to grow the number we employ.”

Chesebro is also dedicated to serving his community, so when an email describing Project EverGreen’s GreenCare and SnowCare for Troops programs dropped into his inbox six years ago, he immediately registered to participate. Since then, he has been able to assist at least one family every year with snow removal or mowing service.

“We are completely onboard with its mission and will continue to support it,” says Chesebro. “Our country is founded on sacrifice and service, and these men and women are doing that every day. This is a small token of our appreciation by keeping their driveways clear and safe and their lawns mowed. It is our way of saying thank you while a family member is somewhere else in the world serving our country.”

James Chesebro says it’s also a way to “walk the talk” when it comes to the company’s mission.

“Our company foundation is family, community, and country, and participating in Project EverGreen is another way of leading by example and showing our staff we are fully committed to the mission,” says Chesebro. “Actions speak louder than words, and when people see it they quietly respect it, and it’s a part of what makes employees proud to be a part of the Your Personal Gardner team.”

Why are Green Spaces Important to Military Families?

Parks, lawns, landscapes and maintained green spaces help to mitigate temperature increases in communities and significantly reduce energy use and cooling costs. Project EverGreen’s initiatives – GreenCare for Troops and GreenCare for Communities – have made a significant impact.

Through its nationwide base of professional volunteers, Project EverGreen has connected people, plants and their communities to maximize the health of grass, plants and trees, which in turn sequesters carbon and cleans the air. Both initiatives support healthy green spaces in neighborhoods and cities, enabling maintained green spaces to function as the lungs of the city and offsetting the negative effects of a warming environment.

A single group or individual cannot transform lawns, landscapes and parks but Project EverGreen’s coalition of businesses and individuals helps maintain green spaces so they can thrive.

Become A Volunteer Today

Are you ready to step up for a military family? Register today

The Title Sponsor of the GreenCare for Troops program Title Sponsor is Nufarm. SnowCare for Troops program in BOSS Snowplow. Platinum Partners include Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Gold Partners are AMGUARD Environmental Sciences and Arborjet/Ecologel.

Affiliate Partners include the Connecticut Grounds Keepers Association and the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association.

GreenCare for Troops is endorsed by the National Association of Landscape Professionals