From Despair to Revival: How a Veteran's Garden Saved a Life and Blossomed Against All Odds
By April Eilers, Public Affairs Officer
In 2015, the Veteran’s Healing Harvest Garden blossomed into life, nearly wilted during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since flourished like never before—mirroring the journey of one determined Veteran.
The Veteran’s Healing Harvest Garden blossomed into life in 2015, thanks to an Arts and Humanities Grant and the dedication of a Boy Scout Eagle Project. What began with just three raised beds soon became a source of fresh produce, nourishing and supporting Veterans involved in the HUD/VASH program.
The humble garden caught the attention of a Veteran Volunteer who also happened to be a Washington County Master Gardener. Mr. Allen Jarrett saw the benefits of the garden and guided the VHSO Garden team to the right people to see the committee’s ideas turn into a reality. In 2019, it became a Washington County Master Gardeners Sanctioned Project. The Master Gardeners provided not only horticultural advice and education, but they also provided much of the backbreaking work of rebuilding the garden. Under the vision and guidance of Mr. Steve Brizzi, MG Project Chairman, the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) expanded the garden to include five raised beds, an herb garden, a watermelon patch, and fruit bushes. Due to the amount of food it produced and the positive impact on Veterans—as both a food source and a wellness source—it was selected as the Master Gardener Project of the Year in 2019.
“The garden not only produced food for Veterans experiencing food insecurity, it also provided a much-needed avenue for mental health and wellbeing,” said Jean Nelson, RN, Health Promotion Disease Prevention Program Manager at VHSO. “It provided a safe place for Veterans who needed to be involved in a project and take ownership in helping others. The Master Gardeners created a beautiful relationship with the Veterans involved in the garden, offering not only mentorship in gardening but also acceptance and friendship.”
In 2020, before the disruption caused by COVID-19, the Healing Harvest Garden, along with contributions from local community partners, produced approximately 800 pounds of produce that was shared through a farmers' market-style event. The pandemic, however, brought unprecedented challenges to the project. Volunteers were no longer able to contribute, gatherings were prohibited, and as a result, the garden ultimately withered and ceased to thrive.
In 2023, the revival of the garden began in earnest, this time with a bigger expanded vision. Again, under Mr. Brizzi and the Master Gardeners' guidance and labor, the garden now boasts 17 beds, including shade beds, pollination beds, and even a "tasting bed." There are places to sit, an irrigation system, lights, and a shed.
This significant effort was made possible by the dedication of the Master Gardeners, Veteran and employee volunteers, including Army Veteran Annie Moore. Annie struggled with food insecurities earlier in her life, so she related to the project. But she also struggled with behavior management and was often escorted when on campus. This all changed when she became involved in the Veteran’s Garden.
Annie fell in love with tending to the garden and providing produce for those in need. Every week, you could find her working among the plants, often coming in the evenings on her own to water, chase deer or monitor for pests. Her new love and commitment to the garden encouraged her not only to adhere to the guidelines but also to thrive in her healing journey. Today you can find Annie working in the garden and preparing healthy foods to share with other Veterans that experience food insecurities.
“The Veteran’s Healing Harvest Garden has given me a personal sanctuary that I feel has given me purpose. It helps me with my anxiety and is very calming to me. I see that accomplishing things can be done, which is important when I am feeling unworthy,” said Annie. "I’ve learned so much about gardening, how to prepare food, and how to cook for myself, all thanks to VHSO.”
Today, you can find VHSO groups, employees, and Veterans volunteering in the three-season garden. In spring, summer, and fall, people are engaged in providing weed control, maintaining the garden area, and harvesting and distributing the produce.
In the end, the Veteran's Healing Harvest Garden truly lived up to its name, transforming from despair to revival, and demonstrating how a simple garden can save a life and blossom against all odds.
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