Healing by Growing Farms: Turning Gardening into Trauma Recovery 

Healing by Growing Farms (HBG) is an initiative and community group based in East Haven offering free, therapeutic gardening for individuals recovering from physical or psychological trauma. Founded by Dr. Ivette Ruiz, a former clinician and Head of Disability and Integration for FEMA’s Region 1, HBG was born from personal experience and a commitment to healing through nature. After a severe household injury that resulted in traumatic brain injury and the loss of memory, mobility, sight, and speech, Ivette was left bedridden and facing a long road to recovery. 

“It was during that dark time that I heard and felt a small, still voice, who I believe is God, who said, ‘go outside [and garden],’” Ivette shared. Working in nature gradually helped restore her strength, and after her first growing season, she had cultivated more than 300 pounds of fresh produce. These crops were donated to organizations addressing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“What started as a healing exercise for me became something I wanted to share with others,” Ivette explained. Ivette received treatment at Gaylord Hospital, a medical rehabilitation center, where she saw the need for the therapy she got from farming. Inspired by her own healing journey, Ivette began inviting others to participate in gardening as a path toward restoration. Through word of mouth at recovery centers, Healing by Growing Farms grew into a welcoming community where farming workshops, held in Ivette’s frontyard and backyard, now provide ongoing support and healing for participants. 

The impact of HBG’s work is reflected in the experiences of those who partake. “As a caretaker who partakes in what Healing by Growing Farms provides, I can say that the work that the farm does is a saving grace,” wrote Brianna Desimone, whose fiancé attended HBG during his recovery from a traumatic injury. Brianna and her fiancé also found comfort in the emotional support animals at the farm, crediting HBG with fostering deep emotional healing. 

Ivette’s methodology is supported by scientific findings showing that gardening has a positive effect on mental health. Often, Ivette shared, physical disability carries emotional and psychological challenges, as individuals grieve the loss of bodily function. Peer-reviewed studies on horticultural therapy support the use of gardening as an effective tool for improving mental health and overall well-being. 

In April 2022, Ivette won an $8,000 investment at Startup Yale, a two-day entrepreneurship event hosted by Dwight Hall, Tsai CITY, and the Yale School of Management. Healing by Growing Farms won the New Haven Civic Innovation Prize, which is managed by Dwight Hall and provides monetary funds to the best student- or community-led venture or project focused on benefiting the City of New Haven.  

Shortly thereafter, HBG was incorporated as a Dwight Hall Emerging Project. The program allows Dwight Hall to provide more formal support to community initiatives through mentoring, material resources like workspaces, and financial support. Since then, HBG has continued to have a thriving relationship with Dwight Hall, with HBG hosting groups of first-year students during FOCUS on New Haven, a Yale program led by Dwight Hall for first-year orientation that focuses on community service.   

One of those students is Zahra Bakrin ’28 who first connected with HBG as a first-year when she volunteered with her FOCUS group with Ivette. “We grow eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, flowers, herbs, apples, and peaches,” Zahra shared. “In the winter, we grow plants in the greenhouse.” The produce supports food-insecure households in the surrounding community. HBG also cares for chickens, quail, ducks, bunnies, and koi fish, which provide emotional support for participants. 

Zahra now leads fundraising efforts for the organization, writing grant applications, and managing crowdfunding and social media outreach. She was inspired to do this work because of the kind of healing she saw HBG provide to those recovering from trauma. “I love being able to interact with the clients of the farm and hear where they’re coming from,” Zahra said. 

Ivette and Zahra shared that they are hoping to expand HBG by finding a larger space for the farm. Moreover, securing donations and grants is essential to ensure HBG’s free services.  

Healing by Growing Farms is part of the Advance pillar of Dwight Hall’s Engage, Grow, and Advance program delivery model, receiving Emerging Project support and fiscal sponsorship. To learn more about the group, to donate, or to participate in Healing by Growing Farms, visit its website.