A garden may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Hennepin County Medical Center, but the busy downtown Minneapolis Level One Trauma Center is home for a rooftop organic garden where fresh, locally and organically grown herb and peppers are grown to use in recipes for patients, visitors and staff.

In 2009 the medical center received funds from the City of Minneapolis Climate Change Grant to create its rooftop organic garden. According to Lisa Nadeau, Food Service Operations Manager, “The main purpose was to provide the freshest ingredients possible for our recipes. We also hope to set an example and encourage HCMC staff and even visitors to consider planting similar gardens at home."

Hennepin signed the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge, showing its commitment to sustainable food purchasing and practices, an underlying principle of the Health Care Without Harm campaign.