White Coats and Green Thumbs
The Miller School’s herb and food garden promotes plants with medicinal properties
By Louis Greenstein
Illustration by Vanessa Branchi
Animation by Michael DiMilo
The garden cultivates the concept of food as medicine.
M
onika Chojnacka’s earliest memories are of her grandparents’ garden in Belarus.
“We had a well, cherry trees, a flower garden, plots of edible plants, sugar snap peas and tomatoes,” said the fourth-year Ph.D. candidate, who studies cancer biology through the Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program at the Miller School of Medicine.
Chojnacka’s parents brought her to the U.S. when she was 5 and raised her in Chicago.
“My parents garden too,” she said. “All of us are into growing our own food and taking care of our own health as much as we can.”
When she arrived at the Miller School in 2020 and heard about the herb and food garden, located in front of the Calder Memorial Library, she volunteered. Today, as chair of the green committee within the Biomedical Student Government, Chojnacka organizes projects and schedules volunteers.
“We grow plants native to South Florida that can withstand the climate,” Chojnacka said. Part of the garden’s sustainability initiative is that the herbs and vegetables growing there largely don’t require watering beyond what the natural environment provides.
While not large enough to feed a critical mass of people, the garden helps educate the community, including patients at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“One initiative we pushed through the garden is food as medicine,” said Chojnacka. Holy basil, Cuban oregano and the miracle berry plant, all of which are grown in the garden, “have medicinal properties,” she added.
Chojnacka calls the miracle berry plant (Synsepalum dulcificum) “one of our prize possession plants.” A native of tropical Africa, the berry can be dried and pulverized, then given to chemotherapy patients whose who are experiencing a metallic aftertaste. In pill form, the berry can alter a patient’s palate and restore their appetite.
Gardeners also partner with cancer support services at Sylvester and mobile health clinics, Chojnacka said. They work with the dieticians and doctors to educate patients. The idea, she said, is to “empower patients through education to support their healing journey with balanced diets, with lots of fresh whole foods.”
Aside from patient education, gardening can be relaxing and fun, Chojnacka said. “Students say taking one hour out of their day weeding and working is helpful to their mental health.” Pediatric and adult patients enjoy visiting the garden, too, she said. “We have rocks from the pediatric patients painted with words of hope and encouragement. It’s a little haven for everyone.”
To learn more about getting involved with the garden, click here. 
