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“Healing is a different journey for each of us, even as we walk the same path together.” ― Bhuwan Thapaliya

Beginning Beekeeping Workshop (and instructors) at the

Veterans Healing Farm apiary. The best of days!

Admin Updates

We are still transitioning to the new registration system so the events calendar only goes through July right now. Please remember if you sign-up for a class, to put it in your calendar to prevent forgetting (then not showing up for the workshop).

Please confirm with the VHF to see if there is a need before bringing material donations. While we have much more room than before, storage space is still a premium. For an ongoing list of needs, please check out our Amazon Wish List here.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Jaster

Army Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Jaster is a soldier, an engineer, a wife and mother, and a trailblazer. One of only three women to graduate from the first integrated United States Army Ranger program—one of the most difficult combat training courses in the world—Lisa was the first female Army Reserve officer to become Ranger qualified. She completed the training, which 36 percent of male and female students fail within the first four days, after refusing to succumb to exhaustion and repeatedly “recycling” through, or retrying, several phases of the multi-locational course. Lisa endured the training, which takes a minimum of 61 days and includes up to 20 hours of training per day alongside a strict diet, for a grueling six months. She graduated at age 37, while the average trainee age is 23.

Prior to receiving her Ranger tab, Lisa worked as an engineer with Shell Oil in Houston and an Army Reserve individual mobilization augmentee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lisa initially was commissioned in the Army in 2000 after graduating from the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point and returned to the reserves in 2012 after a five-year hiatus from serving. She volunteered for combat training when she discovered the Army Ranger course was being opened to women for the first time in 60 years as a U.S. government experiment to see how women would fare in the notoriously brutal program. Currently, Lisa serves on the leadership team of Talent War Group as a senior consultant, advising corporations on how to recruit, train, and retain talent within their teams and is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve serving on Joint Staff. She is also the author of the book Delete the Adjective, in which, she shares captivating stories of her experiences in Ranger School while offering valuable lessons on breaking the barriers society places on you. The book is an Amazon bestseller in two categories. 

Lisa is the recipient of numerous military accolades including two Bronze Star Medals and three Meritorious Service Medals.

Sarah Scully

Sarah Scully joined the Army as a journalist because of 9/11 and served from 2003-2008. In 2016, therapists at the Asheville VA diagnosed her with PTSD from Military Sexual Trauma, which helped her heal and survive, gradually joining groups such as Veteran "Hope", Veteran "X", Brothers & Sisters Like These and Move to Heal.

When Hurricane Helene hit her hometown of Marshall, NC, she turned the camera on herself for the first time and thrived as a multimedia journalist helping to tell the story of Marshall, Madison County and the military who helped them dig out of the mud. She is now the Anchor/Reporter for WNC Mountain Reporter, a weekly news broadcast on Facebook & YouTube with the nonprofit, WNC Grassroots Media. Sarah is married to Donovan Scully, a retired Army Green Beret and they share 4 children together - Ian, JD, Jake & Arianna.

Tickets are $50 and includes lunch and a copy of Lt. Col. Jaster's best-selling book, Delete the Adjective: A Soldier's Adventures in Ranger School. Lisa will be doing a book signing immediately following the luncheon.

NOTE: SPONSORS HAVE COVERED THE COSTS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO ATTEND AT NO CHARGE. THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED TO REGISTER. PLEASE EMAIL VETERANSHEALINGFARM@GMAIL.COM TO RECEIVE YOUR REGISTRATION CODE.

Sunset Yoga for Relaxation and Nervous System Regulation

With RYT, Sam Raph—this yoga class (for all bodies, ages, and levels) combines the power of gentle, somatic movements + mindfulness techniques to help you deeply relax and regulate your nervous system. Through slow, intentional movements, breathwork, and guided awareness, you will explore how to release tension, quiet stress, and cultivate a sense of calm and balance within your body as you unwind from the day. This one hour session is designed to support your body's innate ability to calm, heal, and restore itself…creating a safe space for you to tune into your feelings and emotions. Ground in your body, tune into self-awareness, and leave feeling both centered and empowered to take on life’s greater challenges with resilience and ease! 



*Bring a mat if you have one—extras will be provided for those without.

When: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 6pm - 7pm

Making Herbal First Aid Kits 

Building Your Herbal First Aid Kit: A Hands-On Workshop in Plant-Based Preparedness

Learn how to craft a potent herbal first aid kit with trusted remedies for wounds, infections, digestive upsets, coughs, and more. Rooted in ancient plant wisdom and modern practicality, this class gives you the tools to care for yourself and your loved ones when it matters most. We’ll make kits from herbs grown on the farm and each participant will get to take one home!

When: Friday, July 11, 2025

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 1pm - 4pm

Simple & Nourishing Meal Prep:

prioritizing your health through affordable, seasonal, and local ingredients.

Learn simple and cost-effective meal preparation to nourish your body, and support your local community—all while saving time in the kitchen and reducing food waste! Join holistic chef, Sam Raph, for a demonstrative workshop where she'll cook and guide you through making a week’s worth of meals + snacks with a focus on nourishing, seasonal, and locally-sourced ingredients. 

For beginner or seasoned cooks—you'll be provided with grocery lists, easy recipes, and knowledge that make healthy eating both affordable and achievable. Sam will walk you through how to plan meals around what's in season, and also provide adaptations for creating satisfying dishes that fit your lifestyle, food preferences, and budget. 

By the end of the class, you'll have had the opportunity to sample/taste all of the dishes and ask questions—leaving with newfound confidence in the kitchen, and the knowledge to continue prepping nourishing meals on your own!

When: Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 11am - 1pm

Probiotic Wonderland - Making Your Own Kimchi

Come out and make homemade vegan kimchi! The only thing that distinguishes vegan kimchi from other kimchi is we will be making our own “fishy” sauce without any fish. Kimchi is a fermented cabbage with a little bit of spice and a lot of history and health benefits. You’ll get to learn about the history of kimchi, the benefits of fermented food, sample already fermented kimchi, make some kimchi yourself, take home some kimchi that needs to ferment, and some “fishy” sauce. 

When: Friday, July 18, 2025

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 11am - 2pm

Kombucha with Helene

Learn how easy it is to make kombucha for a fraction of the cost of buying at the store!  

In this class, you will:

•    Understand why fermented foods are so good for our health;

•    Learn how to make your own kombucha from start to finish;

•    Receive troubleshooting tips and tricks;

•    Taste test several varieties of kombucha.

Each participant will receive:

•    Full written instructions on how to brew your own kombucha; 

•    An active scoby with starter kombucha and more;

•    Recipes to start your kombucha journey;

•    A flip top bottle filled with your favorite kombucha.

When: Saturday, July 26, 2025

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 11am - 1230pm

Unbroken Spirit

2025 Programs are now open!

The Veterans Healing Farm is partnering with Unbroken Spirit to empower you with training, support, and resources to unlock your full potential. Discover how their 3 Phase Transformative Program can help you become your best-self. This Veterans program is completely free.

2025 Programs are open now and space is limited. Apply Today! In-person dates are: 

• May 20-25, 2025
• July 21-27. 2025, Adaptive Sports 
• Sep 16-21, 2025

Check out the videos from our Spring Wilderness Experience team and Summer Adaptive Team. The team came as strangers and left as lifelong friends. For more information or questions, please email info@unbrokenspirit.org.

GARDEN VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS, 9AM - NOON.

MEDICINAL HERB VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME FRIDAYS, 10AM - 2PM.

PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON OUR WEBSITE'S CALENDAR FOR SATURDAY VOLUNTEER DAYS AND TIMES.

Volunteering at the Farm

There is no required commitment of time, or duties. Come and go as you please, and participate in what you would like to help with (or come and just hang out). Current teams include:

Vegetable Garden Volunteers

The soil needs worked, the weeds need picked, the starts need started, the produce needs picked, washed, and prepared for distribution. Volunteers will learn about the various aspects of organic farming. No prior farming experience necessary.

Grounds Maintenance Volunteers

Grounds maintenance focuses on the overall health of the land. This includes tree and bush trimming, cutting grass, clearing land, pond health, and various landscape projects. No prior experience necessary.

Flower Squad Volunteers

We grow a variety of flowers which are then made into bouquets and distributed at the Charles George VA Medical Center. You will plant, harvest and maintain our beautiful flower gardens. We’ll also have a flower design class for the team. No prior experience necessary.

Medicinal Herb Squad Volunteers

The Medicinal Herb Squad is led by our Plant Medicine Director, Rebecca Vann. Volunteers here will learn to grow the most popular and locally appropriate medicinal herbs, e.g., echinacea, valerian, skullcap, lemon balm, ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, chamomile, elderberry, and 50+ others. The Squad then harvests the herbs and helps make them into tinctures, teas, balms, and salves used by our Veterans – and volunteers! Rebecca also teaches workshops throughout the summer, at no charge to our members. No prior experience necessary.

Bee Squad Volunteers

The volunteer beekeepers raise and care for our honeybees. They construct and clean hives, induct wild swarms, splitting colonies, mite treatment, collect honey, and ensure the overall health of the hive. No prior bee experience necessary.

Back Office Volunteers

There is always plenty of work that doesn’t involve physical labor. We need volunteers to help with the back-end operations of the farm. This is accomplished through our volunteer committees for marketing, social media, events, membership, website development, fundraising, and community outreach. If you have any of these skills, new members are welcome and needed.

Make sure you find the opportunity that suits you best. For more information, please email veteranshealingfarm@gmail.com, subject line - Volunteering.