Croatian veterans are using the abundance of olive trees in Šibenik-Knin County as a form of therapy for PTSD.
Numerous veterans who suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), together with their families, participated in the actual work of olive harvesting in Tisno as a form of work therapy, reports Lokalni.hr on October 11, 2018.
Through the Work Therapy, Rehabilitation and Educational Center “Maslinik”, in the hinterland of Pirovac, which is less than 10 kilometers away from Tisno, veterans use their energy to produce olive oil and, better yet, they’ve even won a number of awards for their olive oil production. Namely, since 2004, Croatian veterans have won 20 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals at international olive oil competitions for the superb quality of their oil.
Lokalni.hr Screenshot
The veterans today work in an olive grove that was completely neglected in 2011 – and to the naked eye, could not even be spotted as an olive grove at all. But thanks to this valuable group of veterans, the grove is not only fully operational, but it’s fruitful. During their time working in this grove, the veterans have built a path to the olive trees themselves, planted young olive trees and even built sanitary facilities, a shed for tools and a kitchenette, a container for socializing, an irrigation system and drywall.
Staying active in this olive grove helps these Croatian veterans and their family members fight their illness effectively through work therapy – and they also get to acquire new knowledge of olive harvesting in the process.
