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“It takes a lot of courage to heal the parts of yourself that you didn’t break.”

The Veterans Healing Farm is a VA Telehealth Outpost!

The Veterans Healing Farm's Telehealth station features:

• Private appointment room
• High-speed, reliable internet access
• Technology for a video appointment

This station makes it easier for Veterans to receive the care they need without any barriers by minimizing travel time and alleviating internet connectivity issues. Read the latest article on VA Telehealth here.

For more information on how you can use this service, please email veteranshealingfarm@gmail.com or call 828-595-6111. 

The Veterans Healing Farm’s Women Warriors’ Leadership Luncheon is the largest gathering of female veterans and community leaders in Western North Carolina. Seats are limited and fill up quickly—secure yours today by registering now!

Veterans Healing Farm’s 10-Minute Playwrighting Contest

The arts offer impactful avenues for Veterans to connect through shared experiences and meaningful dialogue. Recognizing this, the Veterans Healing Farm is launching its inaugural Veterans 10-Minute Playwriting Contest, with selected plays to be presented as staged readings in November 2026, with full productions in 2027.

This contest welcomes submissions from all individuals with a direct military connection, including active-duty personnel, reservists, National Guard members, Veterans, and their immediate family.

Play themes should directly address military service and/or its impact on communities. The contest and culminating festival aim to honor and celebrate those who have served and continue to serve. We seek diverse voices exploring both the difficulties and the positive contributions of Veterans within our community.

Veterans Day 5k - Registration Now Open!

We are excited to announce the First Annual Veterans Healing Farm 5K and Kids Fun Run, taking place on November 8, 2026. This special event for Veterans Day with bring our community together to support the Veterans Healing Farm, a place dedicated to healing, connection, and growth for our nation’s veterans, and their families.

Whether you’re an avid runner, a local business or someone who simply wants to give back, there are several ways to get involved:

🏃 Participate

Join us on race day! The 5K and Kids Fun Run are designed for all ages and fitness levels. Come out, get active, and show your support. Walkers are absolutely welcome and what I’ll be doing myself!

🤝 Become a Sponsor

We offer multiple sponsorship levels – Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Sterling, each with unique opportunities to promote your business while supporting a powerful cause. Sponsors receive benefits such as logo placement on race materials, event day presence, and complimentary race entries.

📣 Support the Event

Even if running isn’t your thing, we would love to have you come out, cheer on participants, and help us create an uplifting, community-driven experience.

Your involvement directly supports programs that provide veterans and their families with therapeutic farming, wellness activities, and a strong sense of community.

 Important Deadlines:

August 1, 2026 – Deadline to be included in printed marketing materials

September 1, 2026 – Final deadline for all sponsorship commitments

If you’re interested in sponsoring, participating, or learning more, we would love to connect with you.

Thank you for helping us make this inaugural event a meaningful success. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

Warm regards,

Alan Yeck

director@veteranshealingfarm.org

828-595-6111

Simple & Nourishing Meal Prep: prioritizing your health through affordable, seasonal, and local ingredients

Learn simple and cost-effective meal preparation to nourish your body, and support your local community—all while saving time in the kitchen and reducing food waste! Join holistic chef, Sam Raph, for a demonstrative workshop where she'll cook and guide you through making a week’s worth of meals + snacks with a focus on nourishing, seasonal, and locally-sourced ingredients.

For beginner or seasoned cooks—you'll be provided with grocery lists, easy recipes, and knowledge that make healthy eating both affordable and achievable. Sam will walk you through how to plan meals around what's in season, and also provide adaptations for creating satisfying dishes that fit your lifestyle, food preferences, and budget.

By the end of the class, you'll have had the opportunity to sample/taste all of the dishes and ask questions—leaving with newfound confidence in the kitchen, and the knowledge to continue prepping nourishing meals on your own!

When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 10am - noon

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback, also known as EEG (electroencephalogram) biofeedback, is a therapeutic intervention that provides immediate feedback from a computer-based program that assesses a client’s brainwave activity. The program uses auditory or visual signals to help patients recognize their thought patterns and try to modify them. Through this process, clients can learn to regulate and improve their brain function and hopefully alleviate symptoms of various neurological disorders and mental health conditions.

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, evidence-based therapy supported by the VA for veterans to treat PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), chronic pain, and sleep issues. It uses EEG biofeedback to train brainwave regulation, with studies showing improvements in anxiety, depression, and memory. 

When: Thursdays, beginning June 4 for 12 weeks, ending August 27

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: Time slots will be 1pm,130pm, 2pm, 230pm, 3pm. Time slots must be scheduled.

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Kayak Paddling Trip with Headwater Outfitters

Meet at the farm and take the van to Headwater Outfitters for a self-guided kayak paddling trip! (If you choose to drive separate please let us know)

Three-hour paddling trip on a lively, yet gentle current with fast-moving shoals and sharp river bends along the way, all part of a natural river environment. Trip will be 10a-1p not including travel time.

When: Friday, June 5, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 830am - 2pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Beginner Spinning: Learning to spin on a top whirl drop spindle with Jamie Sparks*

Your life is filled with textiles made from various spun threads and yarn. Come deepen those connections with the fibers that are deeply woven into many aspects of our lives by trying your hand at one of the earliest ways to handspin yarn using a drop spindle. Join us for a fun, educational and meditative day of learning the top whirl dropspindle, and maybe some other styles as welll. We will prepare, card and spin raw wool fleece to create yarn on a drop spindle. You may have time to try different types of fibers and even different types of spindles. You will get to take home your first handspun yarn, as well as a drop spindle to continue exploring this new skill.  

*Jamie Sparks is a multidisciplinary artist and educator with over 30 years of experience teaching learners of all ages. She has spent more than two decades working with natural fibers, specializing in spinning and felting, and has taught throughout the southeastern U.S., including the John C. Campbell Folk School, Tryon Arts and Crafts School, assisting at Penland School of Crafts and numerous arts councils. Her fiber arts instruction emphasizes the transformation of raw fleece into finished pieces, combining traditional techniques with an accessible, hands-on approach. Jamie holds an Associates in Metalsmithing from Haywood Community College, where she developed her skills in metalwork and design. Prior to her work in the arts, she focused life as a herbal educator and plant biologist with a focus on the relationship between humans and plants—a passion that continues to influence her creative practice.

When: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 11am - 2pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Acupuncture

The Daoist Traditions Acupuncture Clinic is located in Asheville NC. Their clinical interns are in the final phase of a rigorous four-year academic program and treat patients under the direct supervision of clinical faculty who are NC licensed acupuncturists. Interns complete 900 hours of clinical training to develop their skills as practitioners. The clinic provides 6,000+ affordable patient treatments each year and 500+ free treatments through non-profit partnerships and community events.

Acupuncture has been part of the VA Whole Health System since 2018. It is recognized by the World Health Organization for its benefits for anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal pain, neurological pain, insomnia, stress, and so much more!

When: Friday, June 12, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 9am - 1pm

All participants need to register through the Regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **Cancellation within the 72 hour window of the workshop will result in a no-show fee charge.**

Herb Infused Oils and Salves with Rebecca Vann

In this hands-on class, we’ll craft rich herbal oil infusions using dried plants and explore how to draw out their beneficial qualities. You’ll then learn how to transform these infused oils into versatile salves, perfect for lip balms and a variety of skin-care needs. Each participant will take home a small amount of either infused oil or finished salve to continue working with at home.

When: Friday, June 12, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 1pm - 4pm

All participants need to register through the Regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **Cancellation within the 72 hour window of the workshop will result in a no-show fee charge.**

Set-up Your Own Meshtec Emergency Communications System

(If you had this during Helene, you would have been able to communicate with friends and loved ones. Used by U.S. Special Forces)

Meshtec (or Meshtastic) emergency communication systems, specifically referring to decentralized, low-power mesh networks, provide off-grid, peer-to-peer connectivity for critical communication without relying on cell towers or the internet.

Key Aspects of Mesh Emergency Systems:

• Decentralized Communication: Instead of relying on a central hub, each device (node) acts as a relay, passing messages from node to node to reach recipients, notes.
• Off-Grid Capability: These systems operate without cellular towers or internet infrastructure, making them ideal for disaster situations.
• Hardware and Operation: Meshtastic uses small, affordable radio devices that typically connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The phone is used for the user interface (typing/viewing), but the radio handles the transmission.

Who should attend: Those interested in being able to communicate with loved ones and friends during an emergency/comms-down environment. Hiking, camping, and off-roading where coverage is non-existent.

What you will learn: Non-standard, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications workshop, focused on building a resilient, self-healing mesh network, using Meshtastic LoRa (Long Range) radio technology devices.

Why attend: To enable members of our Veteran community to be more resilient in the face of emergencies and natural disasters, and to continue to foster a sense of community in the same.

Meshtastic is already heavily in use in Western North Carolina; there is a Meshtastic repeater node on top of Mount Mitchell. It's a great opportunity to build resiliency in our own community, and continue building resiliency to the greater WNC area as well! Each node/device that a user has also functions as a repeater, so the more devices throughout an area, the more robust the self-healing mesh network!

You will leave with the equipment and knowledge to start your own emergency network.

When: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: Noon - 3pm

All participants need to register through the Regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **Cancellation within the 72 hour window of the workshop will result in a no-show fee charge.**

Composting 101

Learn various methods of composting including hot and cold composting, vermicomposting, black soldier fly larvae and more. We will create a hot compost pile on site and discuss the do’s and don’ts of composting.

When: Friday, June 26, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 930am - 1230pm

All participants need to register through the Regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **Cancellation within the 72 hour window of the workshop will result in a no-show fee charge.**

Equine Therapy with Heart of Horse Sense

Join us for a day retreat focused on mental health and healing through the unique bond between veterans and horses. Hosted by Veteran Healing Farm in collaboration with Heart of Horse Sense, this special event offers a full day dedicated to learning, wellness, and self-discovery through equine connections.

Our interactions with horses can mirror the relationships in our lives, including the critical relationship we hold with ourselves. By engaging in this retreat, veterans will have the opportunity to explore these connections deeply. Our trauma-informed approach encourages participants to observe and reflect on horse behavior, gaining valuable insights into personal challenges and strengths."

When: Saturday, June 27, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 10am - 4pm

All participants need to register through the Regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **Cancellation within the 72 hour window of the workshop will result in a no-show fee charge.**

Simple & Nourishing Meal Prep: prioritizing your health through affordable, seasonal, and local ingredients

Learn simple and cost-effective meal preparation to nourish your body, and support your local community—all while saving time in the kitchen and reducing food waste! Join holistic chef, Sam Raph, for a demonstrative workshop where she'll cook and guide you through making a week’s worth of meals + snacks with a focus on nourishing, seasonal, and locally-sourced ingredients.

For beginner or seasoned cooks—you'll be provided with grocery lists, easy recipes, and knowledge that make healthy eating both affordable and achievable. Sam will walk you through how to plan meals around what's in season, and also provide adaptations for creating satisfying dishes that fit your lifestyle, food preferences, and budget.

By the end of the class, you'll have had the opportunity to sample/taste all of the dishes and ask questions—leaving with newfound confidence in the kitchen, and the knowledge to continue prepping nourishing meals on your own!

When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 10am - noon

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Kitchen Medicine Series 

with Rebecca Vann

Cool your system from the inside out with herbs and foods tailored for the heat of summer. In this class, we will explore cooling herbs, hydrating foods, refreshing beverages, simple electrolyte blends, and supportive lifestyle practices that help regulate heat and maintain balance in hot weather. Participants will leave with a prepared herbal electrolyte formula and a detailed handout of recipes to integrate into their home kitchens.

When: Friday, July 10, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 1pm - 4pmn

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**"

Jam Making with Patrina Van Sky

Learn how to safely preserve and use all of that great produce from your garden year-round! This hands-on workshop will teach the basics of jam making. You will go home with your jammed creations, as well as the knowledge of how to do it yourself.

When: Saturday, July 11, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 10am - 1pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Chair Massage

with Massage Therapist Lisa Mayfield BA, LNMT, LMBT

This quick, convenient treatment is perfect for melting away stress.

A chair massage is a short, session focused on relieving tension in the neck, back, shoulders, arms, and hands. Sessions can be 15 or 30 minutes, it uses a specialized ergonomic chair to provide targeted acupressure and Swedish massage techniques.

When: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 10am - 3pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Floral Design with Maddie McCann

Enjoy a beginner friendly floral design class. Participants will learn the fundamentals of design, mechanics, basic color theory, and the tools needed to make your floral dreams come true. Together we will arrange a seasonally inspired arrangement to take home along with a design kit to help you build future arrangements all on your own.

When: Thursday, July 23, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 3pm - 6pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Acupuncture

The Daoist Traditions Acupuncture Clinic is located in Asheville NC. Their clinical interns are in the final phase of a rigorous four-year academic program and treat patients under the direct supervision of clinical faculty who are NC licensed acupuncturists. Interns complete 900 hours of clinical training to develop their skills as practitioners. The clinic provides 6,000+ affordable patient treatments each year and 500+ free treatments through non-profit partnerships and community events.Acupuncture has been part of the VA Whole Health System since 2018. It is recognized by the World Health Organization for its benefits for anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal pain, neurological pain, insomnia, stress, and so much more! 

When: Friday, July 24, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 9am - 1pm

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Drum Circle with Mark Rabinowitz

Experience how drumming can build community, enhancing well-being and bring joy! No experience needed, just an open mind and wiliness to have fun! Drums will be provided for the workshop! 

When: Saturday, July 25, 2026

Where: Veterans Healing Farm, 138 Kimzey Road, Mills River, NC

Time: 1030am - noon

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

Chickens, Ducks and Quail for the Homestead*

Learn all about poultry for your farm or homestead. Learn to raise poultry for eggs, meat and more! Instruction and lecture on proper housing and care, feed/foraging, common diseases, at home care, housing, and more! Learn to be self-sufficient with poultry!

When: Saturday, July 25, 2026

Where: *120 Fairwinds Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28791 (homestead located next to Cognitive Cafe on S. Rugby Road)

Time: 930am - 1230

All participants need to register through the regpack system and pay the $1 system charge. **CANCELLATIONS MUST BE DONE WITHIN THE 72 HOUR WINDOW OR YOU WILL BE CHARGED A NO-SHOW FEE**

VR Headsets Now Available at the Farm

Virtual reality (VR) headsets are increasingly being used as therapeutic tools to support veterans dealing with both physical pain and mental health challenges. By immersing users in controlled, interactive digital environments, VR creates a powerful sense of presence that can shift attention, regulate emotional responses, and even retrain how the brain processes pain and trauma.

For pain management, VR works largely through distraction and sensory engagement. Veterans experiencing chronic pain—whether from combat injuries, surgeries, or long-term conditions—can be transported into calming or engaging virtual worlds, such as peaceful landscapes or interactive games. This immersion reduces the brain’s focus on pain signals, often lowering perceived pain levels without medication. 

In terms of mental health, VR has shown particular promise in treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. One common approach is exposure therapy, where veterans are gradually reintroduced to trauma-related scenarios in a safe, controlled virtual setting. This allows them to process traumatic memories with the guidance of a therapist, helping reduce avoidance behaviors and emotional distress over time. VR can also simulate social environments to help veterans rebuild confidence and social skills, especially for those struggling with isolation.

While VR is not a replacement for conventional care, it serves as a powerful complement to existing treatments. As technology advances and becomes more affordable, its role in veteran healthcare is expected to grow, offering innovative ways to address complex physical and psychological challenges with empathy, precision, and engagement.

Please call 828-595-6111 to schedule a session.

Admin Updates



First Time Registering? We have started using our new registration system, which among other benefits, creates a waitlist for full classes. You’ll need to create an account before signing up.

Cost: Each workshop is $1 (system processing fee). If you haven't paid this fee, you are not registered.

No-Show Policy: If you do not cancel at least 72 hours before the workshop, a $20 no-show fee will apply. This policy ensures that those on the waitlist have time to adjust their plans. Thank you for helping us make workshops more accessible and efficient for everyone!