New VA Organic Garden offers healing, learning through gardening
Veterans who receive care at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (VAMC) can now participate in a seed-to-table holistic health experience thanks to the opening of the VA Organic Garden.
The garden, which is tucked away at the rear of the medical center and across from the Veterans Services trailer, serves as an inclusive, therapeutic environment where Veterans, their families, and caregivers can partake in fellowship and gardening.
In 2018, Dr. Adam Peterson, Cincinnati VAMC Treatment, Recovery, and Activity Center (TRAC) Director, and Dr. Shari Altum, Whole Health Program Manager, came up with an idea to create a garden on medical center grounds after witnessing the positive impact gardening had on Veterans in TRAC.
“We had been making field trips to a local garden… with our Veterans and they absolutely loved it,” Peterson said. “It was kind of a challenge to get there, and it created its own problems, and we thought how wonderful it would be to have a garden on hospital grounds; a place where we can take part in Whole Health, mindfulness, participate in nurturing, growing something, where we could have our own produce for our Healthy Teaching Kitchen. Now, with the help of many of you, we can make that possible.”
From designing the garden to building the garden boxes and ensuring it would be viable for the 2022 growing season, medical center staff, Veterans, volunteers, and local donors worked tirelessly to make the idea a reality. According to Altum, one of the individuals who was instrumental in making the garden come to life was decorated Vietnam War-era Veteran, “gardener extraordinaire,” and Whole Health peer partner Pete Steciow.
During the garden dedication on June 1, Steciow spoke of the association between green and manifesting feelings of comfort, hope, and peace.
“Scientific studies have shown that green spaces are essential to our mental and physical health,” he explained. “Today, we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. Getting outside is good for us, with fresh air and vitamin D from the sun, which positively impacts our mood, making us feel happier. Just looking at green can make your brain work better.
“Connecting with plants and back into nature’s arms helps us with headaches, stress, depression, loss, anxiety, and loneliness,” Steciow continued. “Let your garden be your safe place. A garden helps strike a balance with nature, whether recovering from war or modern living.”
While part of the gardening experience is centered on the positive impacts it has on mental and emotional health, Veterans will also learn to prepare nutritious meals using the produce they’ve grown during Healthy Teaching Kitchen classes led by VA dietitians.
“I know that Veterans will be in this garden many, many days out of the coming months and years,” said Jane Johnson, Cincinnati VA Executive Medical Center Director, “so I wanted to take time to thank… all of the many individuals who dedicated time, love, and attention to make this a reality.”
VA Organic Garden groups will meet year-round with a different focus each quarter. Winter gardening will take place indoors. Any VA-enrolled Veteran and their caregiver may join the garden groups, which consists of a three-month commitment with the option to attend Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. Participants will also attend a one-time session to create a personalized health plan that is centered on what matters to them. For more information or to register, call 513-861-3100 ext. 274881.