Amanda Belle's Farm at CoxHealth

Growing a Healthy Community

CoxHealth's mission is to improve the health of communities we serve, and we're always looking for innovative ways to do this better. In pursuit of that mission, we've partnered with Springfield Community Gardens to build a community farm in Springfield. The farm is funded by three separate government grants.

Amanda Belle's Farm is located off Primrose Street across from Cox South. It is set up for a 22-week growing season and grows healthy, organic produce used to feed patients with special dietary needs. Food is also used in CoxHealth cafeterias and is available for sale to employees through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

History of Amanda Belle Cox

Amanda Belle Cox was the mother of Lester E. Cox, who was instrumental in saving the hospital from financial ruin in the 1940s and 50s. Amanda Belle's ties to CoxHealth go all the way back to when the hospital was still named Burge Deaconess Hospital and had a single location in North Springfield. She grew produce and stitched quilts to donate to the hospital. Our farm is named in honor of her contributions, and is committed to upholding her generosity and love of community by helping meet the our community's most basic need - nourishment.

Fun Facts

• Amanda Belle's Farm started in 2019
• We first started selling produce through the CSA program in the summer of 2021
• We sold 50 spots for the CSA program in our first year
• We're set up for a 22-week growing season
• Approximately 25% of labor is provided by volunteers
• We have a volunteer program set up specifically for veterans in our community
• Several of our nurses who are involved in the Clinical Ladder program also volunteer their time to support the farm