The Vermilion County Master Gardeners have offered programs at the Danville VA for more than 20 years, but for the last two years, COVID has had a significant impact on in-person programs with veterans.

During COVID, Master Gardener Debbie Edwards worked with fellow Master Gardeners and VA therapists. They created lesson plans and handouts for veterans. Materials were dropped off, and therapists delivered the lesson. Veterans were still able to start seeds using the grow light station.

In 2022, programs resumed, first with out-patient veterans, then in late summer with residents. Master Gardeners started working with outpatient veterans in the VA greenhouse and raised beds outside the greenhouse. VA therapists brought veterans to the greenhouse weekly for a horticulture lesson. Master Gardeners gave veterans lessons on soil preparation before planting a garden in spring, growing plants from seed, and the importance of weeding, mulching, deadheading, watering, and monitoring for plant diseases in the vegetable garden. Master Gardener John Grygiel was a teacher before retirement and enjoys teaching veterans about succulents.

Veterans chose what crops they were most interested in planting and harvested a large number of cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and greens, such as kale and mustard. In the fall, lessons continued with propagation, potting soil, and vermiculture. Master Gardener Cathy Bolser wrote another grant and purchased a vermiculture/worm composter for the VA greenhouse. Randy Edwards gave a presentation on using kitchen scraps to create a rich soil amendment with worms. Many veterans are avid fishermen and very interested in using kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps along with coffee grounds and eggshells to feed the worms. They also learned how composting is good for the environment. In the colder months, they propagated plants, planted bulbs like paperwhites, and made terrariums or bird feeders.

Some veterans come into the program with ample gardening experience; others do not. The therapists want the residents to take pride and ownership in their courtyards, greenhouse and raised beds. One veteran, Chuck, spoke to Master Gardener interns about how much they enjoy the horticulture therapy projects. He said residents do not often have family in the area, and the Master Gardeners have become part of their family. The programs make the VA feel more like home, he said.

VA Projects:

• Succulent Container Gardening
• Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly
• Patriotic Planters
• Herb Containers
• Using Herbs for Mashed Potatoes or Flavored Vinegar
• Fall Decorative Containers
• Tomato Growing and Tasting
• Melon Tasting
• Terrariums
• Seed Starting, Thinning, and Transplanting
• Harvested Vegetable Cooking Class
• Anatomy of a Pizza
• Hummingbirds

All those involved in the collaboration, the Veteran’s Administration, Illinois Extension, and Vermilion County Master Gardeners, agree on the program’s success and are excited about future projects.

Learn more about the Vermilion County Master Gardeners

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