We’re on a mission to tend life and reimagine well-being for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.

At First In Gardens, we cultivate more than crops. We nurture healing, hope, and belonging for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. We provide a safe, substance-free, and restorative environment where wellness grows alongside the harvest. Our gardens, therapeutic animals, workshops, and volunteer events support the well-being of Veterans, First Responders, and their families by reducing isolation, building resilience, and creating meaningful bonds.

Our model is grounded in Care Farming and Green Care principles, and supports five integrated domains of well-being. Our programs and activities are designed to simultaneously reinforce emotional, social, physical, and cognitive well-being, reducing stress, improving mood, increasing social engagement, and restoring a sense of purpose.

Together, we tend life.

Gardeners welcomed:

All First Responders including: Firefighters, Police Officers, EMS

All Armed Services Veterans

Families and companions of First Responders and Veterans

Located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

After leaving the Marine Corps, I struggled to find myself, searching for a sense of belonging outside the structured military life, but unsure how to reconnect to my "pre-Marine" Bryan. While I eventually found community, I realized I needed something more—a creative outlet that focused on nurturing rather than defending or harming. I discovered that growing plants, especially super hot chili peppers, brought me an unexpected sense of happiness.

Watching a tiny seed transform into a thriving plant through its entire life cycle re-engaged my appreciation for patience, care, and the beauty of growth. Harvesting those fiery peppers and sharing them with others made the experience even more meaningful. This joy and purpose inspired Sarah and me to create First In Gardens, a therapeutic farm where others can find healing and community through the simple act of nurturing life.

— Bryan Hurley

What We Offer

At First In Gardens, healing happens through participation rather than diagnosis. It’s not therapy. It’s healing through living—and it works. We provide a safe space that gives Veterans and First Responders the grace to work through their trauma, heal, and still feel a sense of belonging and community.

Through a variety of farm-based activities, we offer Veterans and First Responders the opportunity to engage at their own pace—whether through hands-on work, quiet connection with nature, or simply spending time alongside others.

  • Nature provides a powerful pathway to restore balance, reduce stress, and reconnect with life. Through regenerative growing practices, nutrient-sense food production, and direct donation to food-insecure Veterans, First Responders, and families, we are promoting a cycle of giving and receiving.

  • Our animals are not accessories—they are therapeutic partners. Interaction with animals helps Veterans and First Responders who are experiencing or have experienced trauma lower stress levels, increase bonding capacity, and improve emotional regulation and attachment stability.

  • Social connection is one of the strongest protective factors against suicide. Peer accountability, structured routines, and purpose-driven activities support Veterans and First Responders in their trauma recovery by reducing PTS (post traumatic stress) and PTSE (persistent traumatic stress environment) symptom severity, increasing sustained engagement, and improving long-term resilience.

  • Experiential education and engagement are platforms for healing. Our educational programs, workshops, and classes help Veterans and First Responders connect to nature, activate systems thinking, and feel a sense of responsibility and purpose.

  • Healing happens in community, not isolation. Through volunteer workdays, shared meals, and fun gatherings, community members can show their appreciation for the service and sacrifices of our Veterans and First Responders.

  • Art fuels creativity, imagination, and self-expression. By providing expressive art spaces, Veterans and First Responders can process trauma and restore their sense of self through music, arts, and crafts.

Support our mission to tend life.

3% Cover the Fee