At the northeast corner of the Robin Hill Farm Park is a three-acre plot of land that a group of veterans maintains and gardens – The Robin Hill Victory Garden. Although only about an acre of the land has been converted into garden space, volunteers with the nonprofit Green Alliance for Veterans Education (GAVE), cultivated more than 800 pounds of potatoes and hundreds of pumpkins.
In the spirit of fall and giving the veterans donated pumpkins to Peninsula Behavioral Health Children’s Program and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula. Marking the second year of the veterans’ garden, children from Sequim Boys & Girls Club ventured to the Victory Garden on Thursday, Oct. 23, to pick from a variety of pumpkins including, little giants, white goblins and sugar pumpkins.
“The garden is a way veterans can reconnect with the community,” Jeff Reyes, GAVE president of board of directors, said. “We strongly believe in eco-therapy.”
Interacting with nature and the outdoors, referred to as “eco-therapy” is a therapeutic experience for veterans that are potentially undergoing varying levels of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. In a way the Victory Garden is a conduit for veterans transitioning back into their community in a “safe and peaceful environment,” Reyes said.
Often, Reyes said, returning veterans struggle with the feeling of “isolation” and the garden is a place veterans can come collaborate with others and by donating a portion of what they grow, fulfill their desire to serve and reconnect with their community.
Through a partnership between Clallam County and Washington State University Clallam County Extension, GAVE volunteers will continue to develop the three acres, including the Victory Garden throughout the next three years. Using a recent $4,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation, Reyes and interested veterans will be building a greenhouse to grow next year’s potato and pumpkin starts. Previously Sunny Farms has donated the starts for the Victory Garden.
“The community has been incredibly supportive of the garden,” Reyes said.
Both The Home Depot Foundation and Albert Haller Foundation have been pivotal funding sources for GAVE’s efforts at Robin Hill Farm Park. A $17,000 grant from the Albert Haller Foundation was the start-up funding for the garden, Reyes said.
This season the garden space was up two plots from GAVE’s first year and consisted of 10 plots that individual veterans maintained in addition to a community garden.
“Also, something really neat about this garden is its exposure to people along the trail (Olympic Discovery Trail),” Reyes said.
When seeking a location to provide some form of eco-therapy, Reyes did not foresee the benefits of being near the Olympic Discovery Trail, but it has since allowed for veterans working in the garden to interact with inquiring minds and swap stories with fellow veterans passing by.
Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
Green Alliance for Veteran Education
“Helping veterans and their families achieve education and empowerment through community resources.”
Where: Northwest Veterans Resource Center, 127 E. First St., Port Angeles
Phone: 797-1791
On the web: vetsgave.org
