In the heart of Northeast Philadelphia, a once-vacant acre of land on Megargee Street is being transformed into a thriving community garden. Spearheaded by Heroic Gardens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans find peace and purpose through gardening, this project is offering a new way for former service members to heal.
For Mike Peterman, a U.S. Army veteran, working with the earth has been a life-changing experience. Peterman, who served from 2002 to 2006, deals with PTSD, and has always found it difficult to remain still. However, gardening has helped him slow down and reconnect with himself. “When I get out in the soil, it helps me slow down a lot,” he said.
After his military service, Peterman struggled with finding purpose. “I didn’t expect to survive the military,” he admitted. “Life afterward has been about filling in this giant hole.” Through Heroic Gardens, he began filling that void by working with the land, a process that has helped him heal both physically and emotionally.
Heroic Gardens: Healing Through Horticulture
Founded by Collie Turner in honor of her grandfather, a World War II medic, Heroic Gardens offers veterans a chance to find solace through gardening. Turner explained, “We can’t heal them as people, but we can help them learn to heal their land. In doing so, they will learn to heal themselves.” The nonprofit encourages veterans to find purpose again, not just through cultivating plants, but by fostering a sense of community and belonging.
On a recent Saturday, volunteers gathered at the site to use a no-till, “lasagna-style” gardening method, layering compostable materials such as cardboard and leaves to rejuvenate the soil. Together, they planted spring flower bulbs, with plans to add sunflowers in May. Heroic Gardens is not only focused on helping veterans, but also aims to create employment opportunities for them, hoping to hire between six to twelve veterans once the garden is fully operational.
A Personal Mission to Serve Veterans
For volunteer Joe Cartin, the mission of Heroic Gardens hits close to home. Though Cartin has not served in the military, he has a family legacy of service. His great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all served in the military, and he has witnessed both the joys and tragedies of their experiences. Cartin shared the painful loss of his cousin, Tim, a veteran and firefighter, who tragically committed suicide several years ago.
“Even though I haven’t served myself, my part of service is to be able to help those who need that help, and that’s for our veterans coming home,” Cartin said. He sees his volunteer work as a way to give back to those who have given so much for their country.
A Strong Sense of Community
For veterans like Peterman, the sense of community and camaraderie offered by Heroic Gardens is invaluable. “The group and community and family aspect of it is huge,” he said. The healing power of nature combined with a strong support network is helping veterans rediscover their strength and sense of purpose.
Heroic Gardens plans to open the garden to the public by July of next year, allowing the broader community to benefit from its beauty and healing power.
Source: CBS News
