Hospital Community Garden

While at home for Thanksgiving in Hershey, Pennsylvania, I learned of plans to create a community garden at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The garden will be placed in a courtyard at the hospital and grow seasonal fruits, herbs and vegetables.  Community members can actually "lease" a part of the property to grow their own crops, in an attempt to involve the community in local and healthy food choices.  The crops will be used at the hospital cafeterias, as well as for in-patient meals.  A more unique aspect to the garden is a prescription program.  Doctors at the hospital will be able to write a prescription for patients to pick up certain fruits and vegetables from the garden.  So far pediatricians, eating disorder specialists, and dietitians have expressed interest in the program.  Interviews with hospital employees say that not only will the garden provide a pleasant place for patients and families to spend time, but will also help to advertise healthy eating habits.  Their hope is that by placing an emphasis on these kind of efforts, preventative efforts to eating disorders or obesity issues can be stressed before medication or therapy is necessary.  The garden will also act as an educational resources for school groups and youth clubs.

After hearing of these plans, I learned that there are many hospitals that already utilize gardens on their properties.  After spending time farming at Common Thread, I became more aware of the therapeutic value that gardens can provide.  For people that have a family member in the hospital, the garden can provide an opportunity to spend time together outside and take their minds off of whatever may be the cause of their hospital visit.  The Hershey Medical Center has recently added a variety of pediatric units, and an effort towards providing an opportunity to learn about food will certainly help to promote local, sustainable food in younger generations.  The Hershey Medical Center is planned to start at one acre, but I hope that it will gain popularity and expand so that more hospitals will be encouraged to provide this positive outlet for its patients.

A corresponding news article can be found below.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/11/great_way_to_engage_the_commun.html