Homestead Hospital’s Grow2Heal: Healing by Teaching
At the recent Seed Food and Wine Festival’s Market Day, festival-goers who tasted Baptist Health chefs’ plant-forward dishes responded in surprise: “This is hospital food?” The South Florida healthcare system is incorporating healthy choices in their meals as well as fresh produce grown at their Grow2Heal organic farm, which ends up on the plate for patients, the cafeteria and staff and for community events.
But the push to promote local fruits and veggies doesn’t stop there. Students and their teachers visit the farm regularly so they can learn where their food comes from. The farm hosts regular field trips that include a tour of the garden, hands-on weeding and harvesting, tasting and even cooking classes. “We show them how to make lunch from scratch and try new foods,” says community garden project manager Thi Squire. “The purpose is to make kids aware of health, nutrition and the environment.” The wellness connection is easy to make – proper nutrition can help manage, or even prevent, chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Grow2Heal has hosted homeschool groups, private and public schools in Monroe and Miami-Dade, even a preschool with toddlers – “now they have their own garden,” says Squire. A group of special ed students at Homestead High have been coming to the farm for three years, and they’ve really put their skills to work. This year they have an herb garden and made $70 at their school selling their produce. “If you ask, they can tell the whole cycle of the growing process,” she says. “They’re very engaged.”
Grow2Heal at Homestead Hospital
Campbell Drive and SW 147 Avenue, Homestead
For field trips, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities at the Grow2Heal community garden at Homestead Hospital, email HHGrow2Heal@baptisthealth.net.
