A Rehabilitative Organic Farm
Ruca's Farm
About us
Ruca’s Farm is a rehabilitative organic farm for Israeli military veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experiencing difficulty reintegrating into society.
The farm is conveniently located in the center of the country on Moshav Hemed,
near the town of Or Yehuda and Ben-Gurion airport.
Participation in all rehabilitation programs at Ruca’s Farm is free of charge.
Ruca’s Farm is incorporated as a non-profit, public benefit company (PBC).
The Rehabilitative Program
The farm offers Israeli veterans dealing with PTSD the chance to undergo a process of personal transformation within a supportive group of peers who share similar experiences and challenges. Group members work in crop raising and beekeeping, thereby directly experiencing natural processes of growth and renewal. The program provides practical tools for emotional regulation that combine nature, mind-body work, and the development of interpersonal skills.
The farm currently offers two tracks: The “Arugot” (garden beds) track is designed for those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of a military background, both those recognized as such by the Ministry of Defense and those lacking this official certification. The “Shavim” (Returnees) track, run in collaboration with the Aviram Foundation and the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, is intended for reserve service members from the October 7 War who are not recognized or are in the process of being recognized by the Ministry of Defense.
Participants come to Ruca’s Farm for one day a week over the course of 8–10 weeks to engage in meaningful farm work and a therapeutic program comprising yoga, acupuncture, and psychotherapy. Since opening our doors in January 2024, we have welcomed some 80 veterans to our programs.
Testimonial
My experience at Ruca’s Farm exceeded all expectations. From the moment I arrived, I felt safe and welcomed in a space where I could truly be myself. The calm environment and connection to nature helped me let go of the emotional burdens I had been bearing.
Ruca’s Farm is not just a therapy center, but a place that returns to you a sense of tranquility and connection, a place in which you can sense that you really are not all alone. This is an experience that is now etched in my being, and I recommend it highly to anyone who feels that they need to pause for a moment and rediscover themselves.
My experience at Ruca’s Farm was beyond anything that I could have imagined. From the moment I arrived, I felt that I was entering a safe and embracing space, one that allows you just to be — without pretense and without pressure. The pastoral setting and the connection to nature helped center me and leave behind all the emotional burdens that I had collected along the way.
The people at the farm are very nurturing; you feel good, and the place becomes like an anchor in a stormy sea. Being there is a lot of fun; the staff and the people on the farm are very warm and enable you to to do your work with a sense of joy. Not to mention that the meals are gourmet and there’s always a sympathetic ear, with attention paid to all the smallest details.
The Power of Agritherapy
Ruca’s Farm draws on the transformative power of nature and hands-on agricultural work. Within the pastoral environment provided by the farm, veterans tend crops and care for beehives, learning to nurture life while healing their own trauma and regaining both physical and emotional strength. The results have been dramatic. The Impact-oriented analysis carried out by our accompanying research team has demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the psychological resilience of farm participants along with a corresponding decrease in their sense of trauma.
Organic Farming
At Ruca’s Farm, our vegetables are grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby sustaining a balanced ecosystem. The crops are grown on five acres of fertile agricultural land both in the open field and in greenhouses. The agricultural activity on the farm is carried out by many regular volunteers, participants in the various rehabilitation programs on the farm, and community volunteer groups from local authorities, companies, and international volunteer programs that come for a day of service. The farm's produce is sold at the Ruca’s Farm Farmers Market, located in a shaded location near the farm, but just off the main highway. The market is is operated by the farm staff, volunteers, and graduates of the rehabilitation programs on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., and offers a coffee cart, comfortable seating, and convenient parking.
Why we need your support
Ruca’s Farm has now been up and running for over a year and has demonstrated great success both in the agricultural sphere and in the therapeutic treatment of those veterans for whom the farm was created, but we are now at a critical juncture. During 2025 we will be transitioning from distribution to homes to sales at our farmers market.
A Model of Self-Sustainability
Ruca’s Farm has been designed to become financially independent within 3-5 years of its opening. With sales of organic produce already exceeding expectations, we are well on our way to covering the farm’s operational costs through our recently opened farmers market. As for therapeutic costs: We have received accreditation from the Ministry of Defense as a recognized provider of services for veterans dealing with PTSD, and the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, the largest government NGO assisting wounded war veterans, along with the Aviram Foundation, are funding one-third of our therapeutic costs. By the beginning of 2027, we envision Ruca’s Farm standing as a self-sustaining enterprise, with the Ministry of Defense funding therapeutic services and the farm’s income covering its operations.
Pre-Army Service Year Program
This fall we will be welcoming a group of 8 service-year young adults (shinshinim), who will delay their army enlistment and live communally on the moshav in order to work on the farm. In addition, the shinshinim will provide informal education opportunities for children and youth at risk in the neighboring town of Or Yehuda. The farm, in turn, will undertake to offer these volunteers a set of courses and seminars designed to foster their intellectual and social development, and will provide expert pre-army advising and preparation.
Ruca On the Creek
During 2025, we intend to develop and establish a creative and artistic space alongside the Ayalon Creek at the edge of the Ruca’s Farm for graduates of the rehabilitation programs, the volunteer community, and the farm staff. Participants will gain skills and practical knowledge in a variety of media that will allow for creative expression, experience in independent and group work, and an increased sense of self-worth. The art center will sponsor environmental community projects on the farm, thereby providing another link to the Moshav Hemed community, and the work of the service year volunteers in the neighboring town of Or Yehuda.
Expansion Of Veterans Served
Most significantly, we intend to more than double the previous year’s number of participants, meaning that over 160 veterans will be able to benefit from our program in the current year. Every donation directly supports the agricultural and therapeutic programs that are giving these soldiers a second chance at leading a full life. Each day at the farm offers these soldiers a pathway to reclaim their lives, self-worth, and future. But the impact of Ruca’s Farm goes far beyond the individuals we serve: By helping veterans heal, we strengthen their families, communities, and the fabric of Israeli society as a whole.
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