Collie Turner, owner of Heroic Gardens in the Elkins Park section of Cheltenham Township, was featured by KYW Newsradio in an article titled “Collie Turner: Changing the game by healing veterans through horticulture“.

The veteran outreach program’s mission is to help veterans and their families heal through plants and nature. Turner founded Heroic Gardens seven years ago as a tribute to her grandfather.

“I was very close to my grandfather, and he served in World War II,” she told KYW. “He was a medic and when he came back, he built a huge vegetable garden for his family.”

“We introduce plants and plant-based activities and help them gauge how they’re feeling, because it is scientifically proven that working with plants can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, PTSD, while increasing mental acuity, bone strength, self-esteem and confidence,” she said.

For Glenside Local’s coverage from January on Heroic Gardens’ Sunflower Fields at Pennypack, you can click here.

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Photo: Heroic Gardens