Our Leadership

---

  Matt Garrett is a Navy veteran, an ecological land steward, and a fierce advocate for

healing through Agri-therapy.  He attended boot camp in September 2001 and served as a

Navy Corpsman with the Marines, including two combat deployments to Iraq.

In 2002, Matt was assigned to HMM-364 “Purple Foxes”, a helicopter squadron out of

Camp Pendleton. Deployed in February 2003, his unit supported both Operation Iraqi

Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, providing casevac/medevac care on the

front lines. For their actions, they received the Presidential Unit Citation, an award not

given since Vietnam. He later, in summer 2005, deployed again with MWSS-372,

supporting convoy, EOD, and essential base operations.

After his honorable discharge, Matt transitioned into civilian life through enrollment at

The Ohio State University in 2006. Today, he leads veteran-based ecological restoration

efforts through the Vet Center and the support of Ohio State University, using native

planting, soil work, and horticulture therapy to reconnect veterans to land, purpose, and

community.

“I believe we can restore ecosystems, and our bodies and minds alike.  I half-jokingly

refer to myself as a born-again Naturalist preaching the gospel of Doug

Tallamy.  Through agri-therapy, we can rebuild the earth and can also rebuild the

self—especially for those living with TBI, PTSD, or the hidden injuries of war.” -Matt