LHSC Green Team News » Green Team’s Garden Box Initiative
Published: 2024-08-21 Author: Claire Swift
The LHSC Green Team’s newest initiative, the Garden Box Project, is now well underway on the grounds of Victoria Hospital. Inspired by patient-tended gradens set up by LHSC’s Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses (PEPP) , the Garden Box Project aims to promote staff and physician wellness by providing a place for members of Team LHSC to connect with nature and practice sustainability.
“This project is a great opportunity for the Green Team to promote our sustainability initiatives in a way that gives back to Team LHSC,” said Mike Apostol, Facilities Management, Energy Management Specialist and Green Team Leader. “The PEPP program has been using garden boxes as a form of therapy for a while now and we wanted to develop a project of our own so staff and physicians could also enjoy the benefits of gardening.”
With the help of the Facilities Management department and community partner Clintar London, the Green Team outfitted four garden boxes ready to be cared for by four LHSC departments.
“Clintar London assisted in relocating and repurposing some old planters on-site that have traditionally been used as annual flower beds,” said Chris Pellizzari, co-owner of Clintar London. “We helped the idea come to life by providing the people and equipment to take on the heavy lifting and preparation. We are excited to learn that there were more departments interested in participating than there are garden boxes, so we hope to see the program grow in the future.”
To meet all requests received by interested departments, the team would need to triple the number of available boxes. With 12 departments interested in participating, selection came down to a lottery-style draw, naming Victoria Hospital Day Surgery and Perioperative Care, General Radiology, the E1 Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic, and the Executive Assistants team as the owners of this year’s garden boxes.
For these departments, the garden boxes act as a nice break for staff members throughout their busy days.
“Being patient-facing and behind a desk all day can be challenging,” said Lori Williams of the E1 Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinic. “A break during the day to be outdoors tending to the garden will be so helpful to refresh and recharge.”
Williams’ colleagues share her enthusiasm.
“This project is not just an opportunity to work as a team and teach moments of collaboration, coordination and organization, but most of all it is the chance to share happiness and joy,” said Ancy Rajan, Manager, VH Perioperative Care.
In the years to come, the team hopes to introduce the project at University Hospital, as well as expand at Victoria Hospital. This way, more members of Team LHSC can enjoy the benefits of the gardens and support the Green Team’s initiatives.
Not only does the Garden Box Project support the goals of the Green Team, but also the broader strategic priorities of the organization. LHSC strives to become a workplace of choice for employees by embedding joy in work and implementing a comprehensive wellness strategy that focuses on all six pillars of wellness (social, spiritual, physical, mental, occupational and intellectual). The Garden Box Project is one example of how we are working towards accomplishing these larger goals.
Based on participant sentiment, this seems to be exactly what the program is accomplishing.
“The program gives us the opportunity to enhance overall wellness through the rejuvenating benefits of nature,” said Michelle Falkiner, Manager of General and Paediatric Radiology. “Not only that, but it also allows us to plant and nurture vegetables and flowers that we can eventually share.”
Each department has taken a unique approach to their box. Some have chosen to plant vegetables which they plan to donate following cultivation. Another has focused on curating a pollinator garden and one has selected white flowers as a symbol of hope and renewal. And that is exactly what this project is, a chance for renewal each day, a place for growth and an opportunity to connect with the natural world.
