WEST LOS ANGELES — John Follmer, an Iraq war veteran and adviser to Los Angeles County on military and veterans affairs, leads weekly volunteer efforts to restore a neglected Japanese garden on the West LA Veterans Affairs Campus. His work is part of a broader mission to transform the 387-acre campus into a permanent veteran community rather than temporary housing.
Follmer began rehabilitating the garden six years ago after finding it in a state of wild disrepair. Built in 1968, the garden now serves as a focal point for veteran volunteers who gather every Thursday from sunup to sundown to tend the space alongside master gardeners. "Every single Thursday from sunup to sundown, we're out here with master gardeners. When something was left for 20 years of neglect, now we're learning what to take back, what to throw away. This is proof that one year of consistency can beat back 20 years of neglect," Follmer said.
The West LA VA Campus was donated in 1888 specifically for veterans. A 2012 NPR investigation found it had been used for non-veteran purposes while thousands of veterans remained homeless. Since then, more than 1,200 units of veteran housing have been built following lawsuits, protests, and government commitments, though construction remains years behind schedule.
Follmer emphasizes the garden’s therapeutic role for veterans, including those recovering from addiction. "We always tell the vets, like, 'You don't have to come here and work. The simple art of stepping into the garden justifies its purpose,'" he said. He also noted the need for engaging activities, saying veterans in recovery "need activities to occupy their time and inspire them."
"The vets are a little upset because they get this far up North Campus, and there's no supermarkets, there's no coffee shops, there's nothing. And I have to keep telling them, just hold on, something will come, and then it is our job as veterans to make the most of it," Follmer said. He envisions hosting movie showings in the natural amphitheater below the garden and fostering a sense of belonging. "We are here in the center of the largest city in the United States, and aside from an occasional helicopter, it's hard to imagine you're only a quarter mile away from the 405 freeway. It's just such a peaceful place, and I think that this place truly is a deserving place for the veterans," he said.