Eighteen active duty military veterans recently graduated from a five month farming and gardening training program called the Heroes Garden. The project was a collaboration between the Franklin County Office of OSU Extension and the Central Ohio Veterans Administration Healthcare System. Veterans participated in classroom sessions on urban farming and gardening topics in the early spring and then planted and maintained a vegetable garden at the new Extension Teaching and Learning Gardens at Waterman Farm on campus.
Participants produced and harvested 1,620 lbs. of vegetables from the Heroes Garden. The vegetables and herbs harvested at the Heroes Garden were utilized at home by participants and a portion of the harvest was also donated to local food pantries. Participants reported positive health outcomes such as reduced stress levels and increased fresh vegetable consumption by participating in the program.
The Heroes Garden will continue next year and any veteran interested in participating in this group gardening program is welcome to participate free of charge. Interested veterans should contact Mike Hogan.