We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Nashville Herb Society! The Herb Society is a non-profit, working organization whose grant mission to support gardens that enhance opportunity, awareness and sense of community by providing nutrition, wellness and education.
You can learn more about the Nashville Herb Society here: Nashville Herb Society
We plan to build a small herb garden on the patio of our residential facility this spring. It will serve as a source of pride, therapy, community and wellness for the men in our Transitional Housing Program, as it will be tended and kept by our residents. This garden will provide our men with knowledge, skills, enhanced nutrition, and a greater sense of community, as they learn and work together to maintain the garden.
Gardening, for many people, is therapeutic for the mind, body, and soul. It takes people away from technology and reconnects us with nature. Sometimes, when veterans are out of the military, they continue to seek things they can have pride in, something that they are in control of. Gardening can be that for our residents. This garden and the skills learned will be a new resource and growth opportunity for our men. Many have never had the opportunity to learn about herbs or gardening in general, and as new men are constantly entering our program, we envision this garden creating new interests and passions for those that we serve.
Having an herb garden will also allow our kitchen staff to create more flavorful meals for all residents, as we serve 3 meals per day to up to 49 men. We plan to provide lessons on herbs, nutrition, and cooking skills to all residents, teaching them a garden-to-table approach to meals. In this approach, we will teach them to plant and tend to the herbs for when they are housed if they would like to continue that skill and passion after securing housing and personal independence.
We serve roughly 250 men per year in our transitional program. With our plan and the support of several master gardeners, we envision this garden lasting for years to come. We have confidence in our vision, and see this garden as a permanent part of facility.