For many veterans, returning home marks the beginning of a new kind of service, one centered on rebuilding lives, communities, and connections. At Heroic Gardens, that journey starts in the soil.

Founded in 2018 by Collie Turner, a horticultural practitioner and former advertising executive, Heroic Gardens is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of veterans and their families through nature-based therapy and community engagement.

The idea grew from a deeply personal place. Turner describes the organization as “a love letter to my grandfather,” a World War II medic and farmer who continued to serve his community long after returning home. Inspired by his example, she set out to create a program that would give back to those who have given so much.

Let Freedom Bloom

What began as a simple idea — helping veterans improve their outdoor spaces — has blossomed into a multifaceted organization with four core programs designed to promote healing, connection, and purpose.

Land Transformation remains Heroic Gardens’ cornerstone initiative. Volunteers work alongside veterans to reimagine their landscapes, from small patios to full yards, creating spaces that reflect each veteran’s goals and sense of peace. In recent years, this program has expanded to include the restoration of VFW posts, monuments, and historic cemeteries, honoring those who served while enhancing community spaces.

Mission Windowsill, another core program, offers horticultural therapy classes for veterans through VA hospitals, vet centers, and outpatient facilities. Each 90-minute session is designed around the VA’s Whole Health model, connecting nature-based activities to key elements of well-being — relationships, nutrition, movement, and more.

When the pandemic forced programming to go virtual, Turner and her team saw an opportunity to grow. Their Virtual Garden reaches veterans all over the country, from Pennsylvania to Alaska and Hawaii. Participants receive monthly activity kits and gather on Zoom to learn, connect, and plant together. For many, it’s become a lifeline. “A lot of our veterans live in rural areas or are housebound,” Turner explains. “This gives them a community they might not otherwise have.”

Cultivating Healing in Holmesburg

In 2024, Heroic Gardens took its mission to new ground — literally — through the creation of a one-acre healing farm at Pennypack in Upper Holmesburg. Developed in partnership with NewCourtland and EDA Contractors, the farm is designed and operated by veterans, with help from hundreds of volunteers.

The project began with a community-driven effort to build the farm’s foundation — 270 cubic yards of compost, 300 tons of leaves, and a tractor trailer of cardboard, all layered “lasagna-style” to create new planting beds. Since then, the farm has produced hundreds of bags of free fresh produce for local residents and veterans.

Beyond its agricultural impact, the space has become a place for connection and learning — hosting children’s gardening activities, accessible design reviews with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and workforce development opportunities for veterans exploring careers in agriculture, sustainability, and related fields.

“We want to change the perception of what it means to work on a farm,” says Turner. “There’s marketing, technology, community outreach — so many ways to learn, grow, and find joy.”

Overcoming Challenges and Growing Forward

Like many nonprofits, Heroic Gardens faces the ongoing challenges of limited funding and staff capacity. Turner, currently the organization’s only full-time employee, continues to wear many hats — executive director, fundraiser, program manager, and volunteer coordinator.

Despite those challenges, she remains optimistic: “I know what we’re doing is changing lives — and isn’t that what everyone needs right now? People need to feel heard, seen, and cared for. We do all of that through nature.”

Moving forward, data collection and impact measurement are now a key focus. The goal is to help the organization demonstrate its measurable effects on veterans’ mental and physical health.

How to Get Involved

Community members can support Heroic Gardens in several ways — through donations, volunteering, or joining one of their monthly “packing parties” in Elkins Park, where volunteers assemble supply kits for the Virtual Garden program.

To learn more or sign up, visit heroicgardens.org.

Blueprint Commercial’s Nonprofit Spotlight series highlights organizations making a positive impact across our communities. Each story is a reminder that real estate and revitalization are about more than buildings — they’re about people, purpose, and place.