P.E.I. veterans will soon have their own therapeutic gardening program

It's no secret that being active outdoors can improve your mood and reduce stress. Gardening is no exception, and for veterans who have been through trauma it could offer a lifeline.

That's why the P.E.I. Farm Centre Association is planning a new program for veterans, giving them a chance to help others while getting their hands in the soil.

The association, which runs the Legacy Garden in Charlottetown, has already offered therapeutic horticulture programs in the city for the past four years, specifically for people with autism, addiction, and mental health issues.

Now, the non-profit is looking into expanding its services into eastern P.E.I., with veterans a focus of projects at both planned locations.

Those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forced can experience terrifying or distressing events, and some return from their service with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health conditions, Ferraro said. 

On the Island, the options for rehabilitation are limited, explained Phil Ferraro, the P.E.I. Farm Centre Association's general manager.

"I learned from discussions with veterans that Prince Edward Island is the only region in Canada where there's no retreat centre for veterans," Ferraro told CBC's Island Morning.

He hopes the new program is to provide veterans a place to slow down and spend time with fellow veterans and other service members.

According to Veterans Affairs Canada, PTSD can result from "witnessing, experiencing, or learning about someone close to you who experienced traumatic events (such as actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence)."

The department estimates more than nine per cent of Canadians will experience PTSD, but those at highest risk include service members who have experienced an "operational stress injury" in combat.

For those living with the condition, Ferraro said, growing food can provide benefits, both as a group activity or alone, because it can shift people's focus away from thinking about traumatic events that might have affected their lives.

Through the garden program, the P.E.I. Farm Centre hopes veterans can also experience a sense of accomplishment and hope.

"One of the reasons why I love to garden and farm so much," he said, "is that every day can be so diverse and the seasons are always different."

Royal Canadian Air Force veteran Debbie Reid agrees.