Greenleaf Project Cultivates Horticultural Opportunities for Veterans

By Julia Meek

Most garden activity this time of year is limited to daydreaming over seed catalogs, but two Fort Wayne residents, Holly Chaille and Sheila Hudson, are busy cultivating a brand new urban gardening and Horticultural Healing Program, expressly for veterans.

Beginning in March, "Greenleaf" will provide a nine month, hands-on vocational training opportunity for fifteen vets to grow new skills for work in horticulture-related fields, and organic gardens to benefit the community.

Sheila Hudson and Holly Chaille believe that their Greenleaf Project will improve the sense of well-being among veterans, their peers and the community.

Credit Ellie Bogue

http://wboi.org/post/greenleaf-project-cultivates-horticultural-opportunities-veterans

Veterans and Horticultural Healing Program

Veterans will have the opportunity to grow their abilities and their own food through a new horticultural healing program.




Started by Greenleaf, Urban Gardening and Horticultural Healing, the program will give clients hands on vocational training that combines rehabilitation, healing and allows clients to create a food garden.




Holly Chaille and Sheila Hudson have joined forces to create the new program. The idea is to help veterans who are challenged by physical and emotional challenges such as PTSD. Chaille said horticultural therapy can help combat depression, decrease physical pain, improve memory and concentration encourage social interaction, reduce stress and anger and enhance productivity.




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