A new harvest of hope at Baptist Health La Grange’s Genesis Garden

At the Genesis Garden, tucked in the center of Baptist Health La Grange, work begins in late April. 

Eager, green-thumbed volunteers gathered for the garden’s Spring Kick-off Planting Party, filling raised beds with the bright beginnings of a new harvest. Among the planted produce is cabbage, strawberries, beets, broccoli, tomatillos and even four kinds of tomatoes, each marked with colorful signs offering a preview of what’s to come. Serrano peppers even made their garden debut this year. 

If the weather and sunshine cooperate, the first harvest will be ready in about six to eight weeks. 

For Lisa Houle, director of respiratory care at Baptist Health La Grange, that means another season of early mornings in one of her favorite places. 

“It’s my stress relief,” Lisa said. “I come out here every morning before work, around 7:30, and spend about a half hour in the garden.” 

The garden first took root in 2015, and when it needed a new steward after COVID, Lisa stepped in. Growing up with a large family garden, canning vegetables and making homemade jams and jellies, gardening has always felt familiar to her. At Baptist Health La Grange, it has also become a way to turn gratitude into action. After experiencing the support of her co-workers and hospital community in her own life, Lisa now pays that kindness forward through the Genesis Garden, making sure patients and neighbors feel cared for beyond their time inside the hospital. 

It’s a need that’s only continued to grow over the years. 

“A lot of our patients leave here without access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” Lisa explained. “Some will stop for fried chicken, burgers or fries on the way home, and many of those foods are loaded with salt. We all do it sometimes, but for people who are already dealing with health issues, it can make it much harder to stay well.” 

Access to healthier options can make it easier to follow care plans and avoid unnecessary setbacks. 

“This helps support them when they go home,” Lisa said. 

As the garden begins producing, Lisa typically gathers a larger harvest on Tuesdays. Fresh produce is shared with patients who may need extra support, and anything not already identified for a patient goes to Hope Health Clinic, a community partner aligned with Baptist Health Foundation Oldham’s mission. 

“Last year, we identified two patients who consistently got something from us every week, which was really cool,” Lisa shared. 

Thanks to donor support, the garden underwent renovations in 2024 that made it easier to maintain and better equipped for the future. The updates included 16 raised beds, a pollinator-friendly garden and remotely controlled soaker hoses that allow the garden to be watered through an app. Butterfly bushes were intentionally planted to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, natural pollinators that help produce grow. A bee house also supports the garden’s ecosystem, making the space both vibrant and sustainable. 

Jean-Marie Andrew, a 26-year Baptist Health employee and member of Project Guild of La Grange, watched the transformation unfold from her office window. She also joined fellow group members to volunteer during the spring kick-off. 

“It’s beautiful,” Jean-Marie said. “It’s sustainable, and it’s just a blessing to the community.” 

Spring planting offered a hands-on way to lift up others. The women’s service organization supports projects throughout the community, and Genesis Garden gave members a chance to help launch another season of care from the ground up. 

It was also an opportunity to support the work Lisa continues to pour into the space. 

 “Donor support has made such a difference,” Jean-Marie said. “Lisa puts in hours and hours of work, and now, with the raised beds and the ability to water everything more easily, the garden can continue to grow and serve the community.” 

In a few short weeks, the garden will begin to give back. The beds planted during the spring kick-off will become fresh produce for patients and neighbors who need it. And Lisa will be there in the mornings, harvesting and helping turn donor generosity into something someone can carry home. 

This is care that grows through many hands – donors, caregivers and community members all helping make sure the harvest benefits the people it was planted for. 

“We don’t want anything to go to waste,” Lisa shared. “The goal is to make sure everything we grow reaches someone who needs it.”