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Fresh Food for Healthy Living
Mayo Clinic Health System—Franciscan Healthcare’s innovative programs expand accessibility to locally sourced fresh food.
Just as Hillview Urban Agriculture Center (Hill- view) is committed to creating a healthy com- munity through a local, sustainable, accessible food system, Mayo Clinic Health System—Franciscan Healthcare is committed to encouraging people to grow, eat and prepare whole, natural foods to im- prove community health.
On the La Crosse campus, edible landscaping (the practice of integrating edible plants within orna- mental landscapes), expansive recycling efforts and ongoing programs to enhance the healthy options available in the cafeteria benefit patients, visitors and staff.
In the community, the organization offers com- munity garden plots and supports programs that introduce children to delicious fruits and vegetables, explain how to garden successfully in small spaces, and encourage family involvement in the preparation and sharing of healthy meals. The organization helps
to fund food pantries and, with Hillview, Western Technical College, and the La Crosse Community Foundation, the new Horticulture Education Center and energy-efficient housing.
“Mayo Clinic is committed to improving the health and well-being of people around the world,” says CEO Timothy Johnson, M.D., “and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are committed to mod- eling sustainability practices for land use and healthy lifestyles for others. Together, we work to encourage respect for our own well-being and the health of our environment.”
FRANCISCAN SISTERS AND
THE COMMUNITY GARDEN
In 1895, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) needed land to produce food for both St. Rose convent and St. Francis hospital in La Crosse. There was no property available nearby, but they ultimately
Chef Michael Tangen displays bounty from the patio garden at the medical center’s La Crosse campus.
THE LA CROSSE AREA’S GROWING EXPERIENCE past | present | future
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PHOTOS Courtesy of Mayo Clinic Health System—Franciscan Healthcare except photo page 40.