After nearly a year of searching, the Veterans Healing Farm in Hendersonville has found a new home, and it is staying in Henderson County.
Alan Yeck, the executive director of Veterans Healing Farm since 2021, said all of his staff is still in shock that they're now moving into a new home.
"It's been a long nine months of searching. Since January, we've looked at over 35 properties, all while we continued to run our normal workshops, events, agritherapies, fundraising, packing-up and shutting down. As I walked the property for the first time, I could feel the peace settling into my soul," Yeck told News 13. "After my first visit I said, 'we're home.'"
According to a Sept. 18 news release from Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Realtors, the real estate company assisted the Veterans Healing Farm with the purchase of an 11.66-acre property in Mills River, located at 138 Kimzey Road. The acquisition of the property, which is larger than the former property (9 acres), comes after the local nonprofit's lease wasn't renewed at 38 Yale Road in Hendersonville.
Veterans Healing Farm uses agricultural therapy for veterans, but the farm is not only about the produce. It also offers workshops on art, canning, medicinal plants and suicide prevention. Along with those workshops are other resources for veterans like equine therapy, canine therapy and neurofeedback therapy.
According to the release, Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks agent Matthew Rice represented Veterans Healing Farm in the purchase of the property, which was listed at $750,000 by Greenfield Real Estate LLC.
Yecktold News 13 the land at the previous location was owned by Carolyn Mashie and was originally leased to her son, John, who founded the farm in 2013. He said he was informed at the beginning of 2024 by Mashie that she was retiring and would not be renewing the lease, which expired on Aug. 15.
Yeck posted on the Veterans Healing Farm's Facebook page about the new property, saying, "We're home." In his post, he said the new location willallow the farm to run its workshops, agritherapy and community events year-round, which, he said, was something he and his staff were unable to do at their previous location.
Rice said the connection with Veterans Healing Farm began with an online lead.
“We quickly bonded over my deep appreciation for those who have served our country. With extensive experience working with veterans and VA loans, I was fully prepared and eager to assist them in any way possible,” said Rice in the release. “It has been an incredible honor to represent Veterans Healing Farm in this purchase."
Rice said supporting veterans was a privilege and a significant part of his business.
"The entire Veterans Healing Farm team was an absolute pleasure to work with, and I’m grateful for their trust throughout the process. I’m excited to see what lies ahead for this remarkable organization and their new location," he said.
With the loan signed, Yeck said they are hoping to be fully operational by January. In the meantime, they are still fundraising to help pay the loan off.
"We are still fundraising to pay it off, buy furniture and fund programming. Angel investors who would be interested in investing in veterans, can contact me at
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSVeterans Healing Farm finds new home in Henderson County (wlos.com)
