by Susan Johnson
Employee Wellness

MUSC Employee Wellness has partnered with two local community supported agriculture (CSA) programs to provide a convenient way for MUSC employees and students to have direct access to high quality, fresh produce grown by local farmers. Both are accepting orders for the spring season which begins the third week in April and runs through late July.

Our Local Foods Kitchen Table Cuisine with Thornhill Farms
Our Local Foods offers a members-only delivery service of locally sourced food items for healthy at-home meals to MUSC employees. Local farms, food purveyors and producers provide a convenient way to enjoy fresh and healthy meals with the convenience of delivery to MUSC through the Kitchen Table Cuisine.

The program offers vegetables, fruits, dairy products, grains, meats, pastas, cheeses, and even locally roasted coffee. Order online from your home or office by Monday evening and pick up your order at MUSC's Wellness Center on Friday. Optional weekly menus and shopping lists based on their fresh, seasonal ingredients are available and help take the stress out of meal-planning.

The company also is offering a 14-week spring CSA beginning April 18. The medium share is $325 and includes about 5 to 6 pounds of produce weekly, sufficient for two people, while the large share, suitable for four comes with 8 to 9 pounds each week and costs $420. Included in the spring bundles will be Swiss chard, broccoli rabe, napa cabbage, bok choy, kale, collards, spinach, arugula, carrots, turnips, beets, rutabaga, broccoli, peas, pea tendrils, salad mix, green beans, squash and strawberries.

Visit http://www.ourlocalfoods.com/kitchentablecuisine/home.php for more information and to sign up for a membership.

Gruber Family Farms
Gruber Farms is located south of St. George and has been growing natural produce since 1948. Its spring CSA, beginning April 16, will include fresh beets, broccoli, collards, kale, lettuce, sweet onions, green sweet peas, radishes, snow peas, spinach, patty pan squash, yellow squash, zucchini squash, strawberries, Swiss chard and turnips. The produce is offered in three share sizes: a $275 small batch ideal for one to two people, a $385 medium pack for a family of three to four and a $495 large bundle for larger families of five to six people. Purchase your share with one up-front cost and receive fresh produce for 12 weeks. Weekly shares of produce will be ready for pick up at Harborview Office Towers.

Visit http://www.grubercsafarm.com for more information and to sign up for the spring CSA season.

Employee Wellness events
• MUSC's Pitch the Pack Program: Free smoking cessation program offered to MUSC employees and students. Classes, counseling and a one-month supply of medications are available to eligible participants. Receive a success kit with enrollment filled with gifts. Visit http://ceii.muschealth.com/SCP/SCPRegistration.aspx.

• "Pitch The Pack" Smoking Cessation Clinics: Freed, weekly cessation clinics facilitated by a physicians, psychologists and trained staff for MUSC employees, students and family members. The next clinic will be held at 5:30 p.m., March 26 inRoom 102, Colbert Education Center & Library. Visit http://mcintranet.musc.edu/health1st and click on "Smoking Cessation Enrollment Form" to register or email musc-empwell@musc.edu for information.

• Wellness Wednesday: March is National Nutrition Month and the focus is to "Get Your Plate in Shape." Join MUSC dietetic interns from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., March 28 in the Children's Hospital lobby to take the pledge to make vegetables the star of your plate. There will be music, food, and games along with a photo opportunity. This star-studded event takes place in the Children's Hospital lobby from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• MUSC Garden Project: Lunchtime Work & Learn - Edible Roots. Learn through working with the soil and seeds while sowing edible roots in the MUSC Urban Farm from noon to 1 p.m.y, March 28. Email musc-empwell@musc.edu for more information and to register for this event.

• MUSC Garden Project: Afternoon Work & Learn - Edible Flowers. Learn through working with soil and seeds while planting edible flowers in the MUSC Urban Farm from 4:30 - 6 p.m., March 28. Open to MUSC employees, students and their families, email musc-empwell@musc.edu for more information and to register for this event.

• Worksite Screening: April 3 in Room 102, Colbert Education Center & Library. This screening, valued at about $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan for $15 (covered spouses can also participate for $15). Employees and spouses without this insurance can participate for $42. The screening includes height, weight, blood pressure and a blood draw for a blood chemistry profile, hemogram, and a blood lipid profile. To register, go to http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st and click "Worksite Screening."

• Farmer's Market: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the grassy area next to Ashley River Tower behind Charleston Memorial Hospital. Come sample the freshness of their products offered directly from the farmer to you!

Email johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers, classes, or any other ideas are welcome. Find us on Facebook! Like our page and keep up with all the wellness events at MUSC.