Valhalla

A special retreat for Post-9/11 combat

Soldiers& combat zone civilian

workers

The ancient Norse legend told how half the Soldiers

who died in battle wentto Valhalla, where they

became comradesagain… forever

The Soldiers of Valhallaworked during the day

and tended their woundsat night. They tookcare of each other.

They also feasted each night

in the Great Hall of Odin

Many of today’s Soldiersare feeling the stress from

multiple deployments and hardships.

They’re tired,often worn out.

So are some of thecivilian workers who also

live and work in thewar zones alongside

Soldiers.

Their work and the overall working

conditions are difficulteven on the best days.

Typical accommodationsare pretty depressing

at best.

And don’t even mention the food, which is

still better than MREs.

They should have aplace like Valhalla to

decompress, readjust afterreturning from combat,

learn new skills, andjust have fun!

We found what will be Valhalla

on 200 acres in the Ozark mountains

Hunting, fishing, andthe chance to set up

and work on a farm, andlearn to build cabinsand cottages from

scratch.

So who are weand why do we wantto create Valhalla?

The Valhalla Projectis a nonprofit organization

dedicated to assistingpost-9/11 combat Soldiers

and warzone civilianworkers

The founding Valhalla Project Inc.

Board of Directors

Lt. Colonel (ret.) Gordon CuculluPresident & Valhalla Co-founder

Chris Fontana Cucullu (civilian),Valhalla Project Founder &

Treasurer

Major Theo Polet (Army Nat’l Guard),

Secretary

Lt. Colonel Tom Lombardo (US Army)

Director

MSG Mike Stillwell (US Army)Director

The Board serveswithout drawing salaries,

benefits, or othercompensation.

Why are we doing this?

Because we’ve all beendown range and know

the realities andchallenges personally.

Valhalla has a large house for ten people.

Someday Valhalla will host up to 50 at a time.

Soldiers and selectedcivilians will be able to visit for a weekend or

stay for up to 3 monthsat a time. What willthey do at Valhalla?

We saw what some Soldiersbuilt from scratch usingscavenged materials for

their FOB (ForwardOperating Base) in

Afghanistan

Those at Valhalla will bebuilding energy efficient

off-the-grid cabins…

for themselves, and alsofor future generations of

Soldiers and combat zonecivilian workers

Straw bale building example

Straw bale plastering example

Completed straw bale cabin example

Straw bale building interior example

Cob (clay & straw) example

Completed cob cabin example

Earthbag building example

Completed earthbag cabin example

Why will building cabinsbe so important?

BecauseSoldiers can’t go back toFOBs that meant a lot to

them, but they will be able

to come back to Valhalla each year if they want to.

The soil at Valhalla is very rich in clay

Clay like this is perfect for cob building

Clay is also great for straw bale plasters

Building cabins will give

a sense of accomplishment

and confidence in thecivilian world, and

teachskills so individuals

canbuild their own

affordable homes if they want to.

So what else willthe Soldiers and war zone civilian workers

do at Valhalla?

Soldiers and US civilians in Afghanistan have been teaching villagers how to

farm. Some units also keeptheir own chickens and

goats for food.

Good food starts withhealthy, happy animals

so Valhalla will havechickens, sheep, goats, rabbits, a few cattle and other livestock to care for.

Chickens for eggs and pest control

Goats for milk, meat, and weed

control

Donkeys for guarding thesmaller farm animals

Cattle for milk and meat

Hay is already being grown in Valhalla’s pastures

Friendly neighbors willing to assist

Raised bed vegetableand herb gardens as well

as orchards and berrypatches will grow theadditional fruits and other foods needed

Raised bed gardening example

Another example

Another raised bed garden approach

The 200-acre Valhalla property has an incrediblearray of forests, pastures,

and features that offerendless possibilities.

Tall trees and forests

Pasture lands

Creeks and streams

Building sites for cabins & cottages

Countless places to camp

Deer are everywhere

The friendliest dirt delivery man ever

That’s really great dirt for the garden

Deer scouting the planned garden

Get out of there, now!

We’ve found wild turkey eggs

The old abandoned farmhouse

200 acres is a lot of area!

So what are wedoing today to makeValhalla a reality by

Spring of 2012?

We’ve acquired the property and are now preparing the existing

house for the first “Valhallans.”

The sunken living room floor

was a safety hazard so it has

been raised.

Narrowdoorways

havebeen widened

to allow forwheelchairaccess...

A cramped bathroom has beenconverted into an open wet

room forthose with mobility challenges

Valhalla needed an office, so space

from the oversized master bedroom

has been converted into an office

Many beds have been acquired so up to ten people at a time will have places to sleep by

next spring

Other basic furniture is also being

acquired within a very limited budget

Other essential furniture is stillbeing acquired with frugality

in mind at all times.

EnergyStar super-

efficient appliances

must be purchased

new, but theywill help Valhallasave energy andresources in the

long term.

The first initialenvironmental initiativeshave also been launched

on the Valhalla property toprepare for not only people,

but also the animals we will all depend on.

Tons of lime have been applied to

the neglected pastures to help build

productivity without chemicals.

Abandoned vehicles that have been leaching toxins into the

soil have been systematically removed.

Health and safety hazards of all kinds that posed a threat to

animals and people are being hauled away.

One small pond was choking onlivestock manure, cattails and

leaves

It’s been enlarged and completely rebuilt to ensure

that both livestockand wildlife will have pure

water

A deer feeder had been set up; wildlife food plots will be

planted in the spring

And we are working on

building positive working

relationships – and awareness – of the

Valhalla Project within

local neighborhoods.

Response has beenwonderful so far.

Civilians wanting to honor Soldiers are

investing their spare time and equipment

tohelp Valhalla

happen.

It is our intent to serve as a prototype

thatcan be copied all

over the USA to help ordinary people assist those who

have given everything inthe defense of

freedom.

V is for Valhalla (satellite view)

Military support.Mental health.Environmentalsustainability.

These are our objectives.

But about $400,000into it by ourselves,

nowwe need help too.

How can you help?

By getting the word out.

Tell your friends about

the Valhalla Project.

You can also buy a book called “Warrior Police” that first inspired

the Valhalla project

“Warrior Police” authors Gordon and Chris Fontana Cucullu are the

foundersof the Valhalla Project, and they

liveat Valhalla as managers to make

sure the vision is carried out as

intended.

Any and all profits from the

new bookWarrior Police

will help financeValhalla, yetmore will be

needed.

For more information,please visit the Valhalla

blog on the internet:

www.valhalla-project.com

Or contact Valhallaat

valhalla.mailbox@gmail.com

Thank you in advancefor your support.

It’s all about the Soldiers,war zone civilian workers,and what must be done

to help them thrive.