Our Work

We Build Victory Gardens for Community and Veterans

VetREST Bybee Lakes Hope Center Victory Garden overview video.

Our mission is to mentor Veterans while providing farming opportunity in safe and supportive environments where they can achieve wellness themselves and produce healthy food for our nation. Through our Victory Gardens, we offer therapeutic horticulture which uses plant- and nature-based activities to work toward the psychological, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, and vocational goals of our participants.

VetREST currently has three Victory Gardens in operation. The Bomber Restaurant in Milwaukie, St. Johns Village in Portland, and our Flagship Garden at Bybee Lakes Hope Center in Portland. Additional Victory Gardens are currently in the visioning and development stages.

Learn more about our Bybee Lakes Hope Center Victory Garden.

Metro Central Victory Garden at St. Johns Village

Metro Central Victory Garden photo with volunteer watering some plants
In 2022, a new Victory Garden at St John’s Village in North Portland was envisioned and planned. Chartered through a Metro Central Enhancements grant, this place of peace brings refuge and rest to the participants of the host village, a 19-unit transitional housing supportive community led by Do Good Multnomah. The Garden features various trees, plants, a one-of-a-kind handmade bench, and a tranquil water feature. Three Veteran-owned companies were utilized in the creation of this Garden.

History: Why a Victory Garden? (courtesy HistoryChannel.com)

I Want to Volunteer!

Our Projects and Events

  • Cut Flower CSACut Flower CSA
    Petals with Purpose! We are excited to announce our new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program based at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center Victory Garden. We will focus on crafting cut flowers into beautiful floral bouquets to offer during the summer of 2026. The CSA model has its roots in the work of Black farmers in the American South. ...
  • Bybee Lakes Victory Garden Volunteer DaysBybee Lakes Victory Garden Volunteer Days
    Join us every other Wednesday, April through September, as we volunteer in the Garden to provide food for the BL Hope Center community.
  • Bybee Lakes Victory Garden EventsBybee Lakes Victory Garden Events
    The 2026 growing season is here and we NEED YOUR HELP! We have opportunities from April to October to help out in the Garden.
  • BLVG Mason Bee EventBLVG Mason Bee Event
    Learn how mason bees are helping out our Victory Garden in more ways than one.
  • Therapeutic HorticultureTherapeutic Horticulture
    Beginning March 2026, the VetREST Therapeutic Horticulture series works to bring the healing power of working and tending the land to Veterans in the Portland Metro area. During these facilitated monthly activities we will grow together with sessions that highlight the seasonality of garden work and parallels to personal growth. Our goal is to provide those who ...
  • Cathedral Park Planting with Portland Parks & RecCathedral Park Planting with Portland Parks & Rec
    Thank you for joining us Friday, November 7, 2025, for our recent planting at the Cathedral Park Nature Patch. Photos now posted + see progress since April
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