View as Webpage

Effective August 15, until further notice, we will be suspending our agritherapy programs (including beekeeping, medicinal herb, produce, flower, and tomato gardens). The Matthew Bolar Memorial Garden is owned by another family and they have generously allowed us to continue until everything is harvested and distributed.

Effective August 15, until further notice, we are also suspending our events programs including our concert series and the the U.S. Army's band, Country Roads that we had scheduled for Veterans Day 2024.

Historic Johnson Farm and the Henderson County Beekeepers Association have kindly agreed to foster our bee hives, and another local business is generously allowing warehouse space for our vehicles and other equipment.

We we will continue searching for both land and funding to rebuild. The county is kindly allowing us to use the renovated VFW building for some of our workshops. We do not have scheduling information from them yet so please check the calendar of events on our website.

Please reach out to anyone you know that might be able to financially help, or publicly champion the Veterans Healing Farm, e.g., Luke Combs (Asheville native), Zach Bryan (US Navy Veteran)...?

• 20 consecutive years with 6,000+ veteran suicides

• 131K+ veterans have died by suicide since 2001

• 2nd leading cause of death in veterans under age 45

Although service members know they may lose their lives in combat in service of their country, they may not expect to lose their lives – or those they love – to suicide. A 2021[*] study estimated that four times as many active duty service members and veterans died by suicide as died in combat since 9/11.



*Suicide data is always lagging. There is no 'real time' reporting and Veteran numbers are often significantly higher then initially indicated.

$50,018.18 has been generously made as a matching donation pledge to us. This means if you donate $100, it's matched $100, for an increased impact of $200. Companies and people giving $10,000, matched $10,000 for $20,000 impact, etc. up to $50,018.18.

In Jewish tradition, the number 18, or "Chai," holds a significant meaning. Chai (חי), usually pronounced like the English word “hi” or “high,” which is a word and symbol that means “life.” In fact, a common Jewish toast “L'Chaim!,” which means, “To Life!” is often said at celebrations in anticipation of all the good things to come. And with your help, all good things will come to the Veterans Healing Farm!

THE VISION TO SUPPORT THE VISION OF AN END TO VETERAN SUICIDE

With your donations, this is the vision of the future the Veterans Healing Farm. Our mission remains enhancing the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of our nation's Veterans and their families. This new VHF physical model will allow us to program 12 months a year (currently, because we have no indoor space, we are forced to stop for December - February weather).

Twelve to fifteen acres. ADA accessible. Indoor/outdoor classrooms, indoor office space (including visiting therapists space), full kitchen, Veterans recreation area. Patio/deck cookout area. Buildings for the Medicinal Plants and Beekeeping squads; produce wash area, raised beds, year-round greenhouse operations. Veterans Memorial Garden.

Last year we ran 49 workshops for 477 participants; as examples but not all inclusive, equine therapy, canine therapy, art therapy, music therapy, agritherapy, neurofeedback, medicinal plants, etc., organic farming, beekeeping, medicinal plants, tomatoes, and flowers. Veteran centered events, e.g., Traveling Vietnam and 9/11 Memorials saw almost 4,000 attendees in 4 days, Veterans Resource Fair (the largest Veteran event in Western North Carolina) as well as wellness retreats, concerts, trips, and more.

We are a modern model for non-pharmaceutical mental health interventions for Veterans and families. We are only a few people away from making our new home a reality. Please make aware anyone you know that would want to help. Thank you!

DOWNLOAD YOUR OUTREACH SHEET BELOW

Permaculture Design

In this course we will learn about the basics of permaculture design including designing a sustainable and self-sufficient property or homestead. We will talk about designing your property to work with nature! Key concepts include garden design and maximizing yield, water harvesting/storage, solar aspect, animal systems, energy systems, compost making, and much more!



When: Friday, July 12

Where: Veterans Healing Farm

Time: 9am – 1130am

Fresh Fruit Liqueurs

with guest Patrina Van Sky

Join us while we create fresh fruit liqueurs at the farm. You will learn the basics of fresh fruit and other popular liqueurs such as Kahlua and Irish Cream. We will be crafting + decanting a delicious raspberry liquor from our berries on the farm! 

This class offers a sensory journey, allowing you to savor samples of various liqueurs and providing you with a collection of exclusive recipes to take home. 

When: Friday, July 26

Where: Veterans Healing Farm

Time: 1pm – 4pm

4 Hour Sierra Nevada Kayak Trip with Lazy Otter Outfitters

We'll pick you up at Westfeldt Park on Ferncliff Park Dr at Hwy 280 (see helpful directions below) for the 15-minute drive to Lazy Otter HQ on the banks of the French Broad in Horse Shoe. Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time to give yourself time to apply sunscreen and get yourself ready to leave on time! IMPORTANT: EXPECT THAT THE BUS WILL LEAVE WESTFELDT FOR LAZY OTTER AT THE SCHEDULED START TIME! This is for the benefit of other paddlers on the trip and so that we may keep to our schedule. If you miss the bus, you will be rebooked on a later departure for the Sierra Nevada Express if available or the "7-mile Paddle to Westfeldt" which you would meet at Lazy Otter Outfitters. Your kayaks or canoes will be lined up and ready to go for the seven-mile paddle back to Westfeldt, which is just down the road from Sierra Nevada. We'll meet you there to collect your boats, and it will take you less than five minutes to drive up the hill to the brewery.

Your trip includes transportation and equipment, including life jacket and paddle. Kayaks have room for a backpack or small, preferably soft-sided cooler. Don't forget proper river footwear (a sandal with a heel strap is better than flip-flops!), sunscreen, clothes that can get wet and anything else you expect to need. No activities or reservations at Sierra Nevada are included.

No pets allowed. If you arrive with a pet, you will not be allowed to take the pet on the trip with you nor will you be allowed to leave the pet in your car on our property, and there will be no refund for your trip. This is for the protection of the pet!

We look forward to seeing you!

When: Wednesday, July 31

Where: Westfeldt Park, 83 Old Fanning Bridge Rd, Mills River, NC

Time: 9am – 1pm

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
• Sep 16-21, 2025

Check out the videos from our Spring 2024 team on their wilderness experience. The team came as strangers and left as lifelong friends. For more information or questions, please email info@unbrokenspirit.org.

Episode 21 now available to stream.

In this 20-minute weekly podcast, Marine and Air Force Veterans Al Yeck and Megan Landreth interview nonprofits throughout the country who offer help to our Veteran community. Remember to like and subscribe! Click on the image to listen.

Veterans Healing Farm Cool Stuff Shop