“There is no timestamp on trauma. There isn’t a formula that you can insert yourself into to get from horror to healed. Be patient. Take up space. Let your journey be the balm.” -Dawn Serra | | |
The Farm is returning back to life! The medicinal herb garden weeded and prepped, potatoes planted, carrots planted, compost spread, bunkhouse cleaned, and the bees treated. Much thanks to all the volunteers who joined in from the Medicinal Herb Squad, Gardens Squad, Bee Squad, Charles George VA Medical Center, and Gaia Herbs.
Want to join in the fun? [And it is!] Please email us here.
| | CULTIVATING LIFE THROUGH COMMUNITY | |
Operational Announcements
The LENS Neurofeedback sessions are completely filled. If you would like to be added to our waitlist please email us here.
From our Director of Plant Medicine, Rebecca Vann -
So we offer the medicinal plant workshops that you want, please take a moment and complete this short survey.
We will have a standing workday on Fridays from 10am - 3pm. You can join for any part of the day! And if you’d like to come out and soak up the plant vibes and not work, that’s ok too. I have a few rules:
- Come when you want
- Stay as long as you want
- Wear what you want
- Do what you want
- Leave when you want
- Most importantly: HAVE FUN!
I will email our group usually Monday or Tuesday of each week with any relevant details.
Please bring what you need to be comfortable such as: water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, other sun protection, your favorite gloves, and clippers or other garden tools. We also have all of those in case you forget yours. For more information, please email me here.
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Transcendental Meditation for Veterans
The Veterans Healing Farm, in partnership with The Asheville TM Center invites military veterans and their families to receive training in a simple, natural, self-regulation practice, proven through clinical research to bring relief from post-traumatic stress (PTS), depression, and anxiety. For the Veteran community, they offer partial-to-full scholarships for the training.
The TM technique is an effortless form of meditation practiced for 20 minutes twice a day. During the practice, the mind settles down to a more quiet and peaceful state, and the brain functions in a more relaxed, orderly, and focused way; at the same time, the body gains a deep level of rest—deeper than sleep—allowing it to release accumulated stress, strain, and fatigue.
Anyone can practice TM successfully and enjoy the benefits. The technique involves no concentration, no focusing the mind, and no trying to be “mindful.” Most people remark on how easy TM is to practice and how quickly they notice positive results in daily life. There’s no belief system, religion, or change in lifestyle—you don’t even have to believe in TM for it to work!
When: Ongoing
Where: TM Center of Asheville, 165 East Chestnut Street, Asheville, NC
Time: TBD
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Growing Epic Tomatoes from Your Garden
Buckle in and let Craig take you on an in-depth, colorful tour of his wonderful world of tomatoes. Starting with some history, stories and enough information for you to decide what you want to grow in your own garden, Craig will then talk about how to make it all happen in this challenging climate - from seed-to-seed saving. Craig will share his experiences in his first three years of gardening in Hendersonville, and will be happy to answer your gardening questions. He will have seeds to share, and signed copies of his books available for purchase.
When: Saturday, April 8,
Where: Veterans Healing Farm
Time: 1pm - 3pm
Fee: $20 (FULLY REFUNDABLE at the workshop)
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Music Therapy
Music has been shown extensively to be a force for bringing peace, balance, and integration. In this program, the group of participants will engage with interactive musical activities which specifically target consequences of trauma and PTSD in order to establish emotional equilibrium and a sense of peace. Throughout the various sessions, participants will be equipped with tools which can be transitioned into life in order to help deal with difficult emotions, feelings of estrangement, depression, and anger. No prior musical experience is necessary. This program is ongoing yet will cycle in 6-week increments.
When: Begins April 5 for six consecutive Wednesdays. (April 5,12,19, 26, May 3,10)
Where: Veterans Healing Farm
Time: 4pm - 530pm
Fee: $20 (FULLY REFUNDABLE at the workshop)
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Dream Tending for Trauma
Based on the explorations of Depth Psychology, Dream Tending is a practice which
acknowledges the underlying dreaming nature of being and the healing qualities inherent within imagination. Within this program, dreams and dream images will be safely explored from a living animated perspective in order to release and reintegrate fragmented parts of the self for healing, harmony, and reconnection. Individual participants are invited to bring forth dreams and dream images that will be safely shared in group. Through the 6 weeks of this program, dream images and practices will be developed in order to equip participants with strategies to carry the work forward. The program will conclude with an ancient mask making experience that helps to assimilate darker and powerful parts of the warrior self within an accepted and expressive container.
When: Begins April 5 for six consecutive Wednesdays. (April 5,12,19, 26, May 3,10)
Where: Veterans Healing Farm
Times: 10am - 1130am
Fee: $20 (FULLY REFUNDABLE at the workshop)
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Canine Therapy with Warrior Canine Connection
Training a service dog for a fellow Veteran provides a valuable opportunity for a Warrior suffering from psychological injuries to reintegrate into civilian life. As part of their training, Warriors have the responsibility to teach the dogs that the world is a safe place. Through that process, they must convince themselves of the same. NOTE: The dogs that you will be working with are brought to the Farm by Warrior Canine Connection and return with them after each session. No outside dogs are allowed.
Warrior trainers are taught to praise and provide treats to their dogs when they experience a startling event, such as hearing a car backfire. Rather than turning inward to focus on their past trauma, the trainers must get outside of their own heads to focus on the dogs and their mission to help another Veteran. Additionally, dogs offer opportunities for Warrior trainers – who often isolate themselves from society – to experience positive interactions with members of the community. Their training requires emotionally numb Warriors to demonstrate positive emotion in order to successfully teach their dogs. Warriors participating in the program have reported that using these positive emotions to praise their dogs has significantly improved their family dynamics, as their children are able to experience and respond to this positive parenting strategy.
When: Four consecutive Thursdays, April 13, 20, 27 and May 4
Where: Veterans Healing Farm
Time: 1pm -3pm
Fee: $20 (FULLY REFUNDABLE at the workshop)
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Equine Therapy with Heart of Horse Sense
(First Responders are eligible to participate)
Equine Therapy / Animal-assisted Therapy is effective in treating people, including combat veterans and first responders, with PTSD, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other issues.
Horses are highly reactive and respond to human emotions - inviting calm and non-reactive communications which promotes emotional awareness, emotion regulation, self-control, and impulse modulation. Working with horses in a therapeutic setting offers instant and constant feedback to participants and is highly motivational – combining to make an exceptionally effective rehabilitation environment.
The Veterans Healing Farm will be closed to all other activities during these sessions.
When: Saturday June 17
Where: Veterans Healing Farm
Time: 10am – 4pm
Fee: $20 (FULLY REFUNDABLE at the workshop)
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Guided Kayaking Trips
The WNC Duckie Brigade is inviting Veterans for guided kayaking adventures at no charge. Everything will be provided from wet suits (cold water kayaking) to the inflatable kayaks (called duckies). Co-founders of the Brigade, Craig and Jake, "are grateful for the sacrifices our veterans have made for our freedoms and want to help Veterans and fellow humans with their healing."
Veterans wishing to sign-up will need to be in good general physical health with the ability to swim and also hike out carrying 30lbs of gear. The exact schedule will be worked out with participants.
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COMING SOON to the Farm!
Veteran “X” is a peer-led, Veteran-centric Mental Health Recovery Model program that focuses on empowering Veterans to take an active role in choosing their treatment goals and finding solutions to their mental, physical, and social barriers.
Veterans in the group work together as a treatment team for a fictious Veteran “X” who has a large number of challenges. Some of these challenges may be similar to their own. These social issues are presented in the form of a “scenario” and may include things like mental illness, addiction, homelessness, economic hardship, family issues, etc. As a group, led by a qualified Veteran “X” facilitator and peer support specialist, the Veterans navigate the many challenging obstacles on the path to recover in a supportive and collaborative environment with their peers. In helping Veteran “X,” the group members help one another and ultimately themselves.
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FREE NOTARY SERVICES
We are happy to announce 'free' Notary Services to our Veteran community. Forms we will have on-hand include: Health Care Power Of Attorney, Advanced Directive/Living Will, and
Advance Instruction for Mental Health Treatment. These forms are important to have in place for all of us, regardless of age. “It always seems too soon, until it’s too late.” Also, the notary services are not limited to advanced health care directives (i.e. transfer of titles, wills, etc.). This is by appointment only.
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Veterans Resource Fair
The Veterans Healing Farm is hosting our 2nd Annual Veterans Resource Fair on Saturday, May 27, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is no fee to attend and is open to the public
This is the largest veteran event in WNC showcasing the services provided to our veterans from over 30 nonprofit organizations including: Blue Ridge Honor Flight, Boots on the Ground, Brothers and Sisters Like These, Catalyst Sports, Combat Vets Blue Ridge Sevens, Council on Aging, Eagle Rock Camp, Equinox Ranch, Heart of Horse Sense, Hendersonville Elks Lodge #1616, Hook Line and Heroes, PGA Hope, Mothers of Veteran Suicide, Pisgah Legal, Project Healing Waters, Veterans Healing Farm, Veterans Services of the Carolinas, VFW Hendersonville, Warrior Canine Connection…and more! Food trucks, live music, and the VHF Bagpiper Corps of One! Come out and support our Veterans.
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The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, November 9 - 12
This Traveling Memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their home town who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington.
November 9 - 12 [This memorial will be accessible to the public 24 hours a day while at the Farm.]
| | The Veterans Healing Farm is a 501c3 nonprofit established in 2013 to enhance the mental and emotional well-being of our nation's Veterans and their families. | | | | |
