The Earthkeepers student club is offering Food and Farming week April 13 through 16. The annual event encourages students to learn about and participate in farming practices and important sustainability issues.
2010 Food and Farming Week activities include planting the last spring crops in the campus garden, pictured above.
Student and faculty organizers have organized a number of events focused on producing and eating local food.
Gardening and the community – Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Come hear Tom Benevento and Soula Pefkaros of the local New Community Project talk about personal and public scale gardening and the impact on the global community. Simply in Season cookbooks will be given away as door prizes. Location: University Commons 211-212 (off the fitness center track)
*Also Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Harrisonburg city council will be meeting to approve the proposed campus solar project, the largest in the commonwealth. Come lend your support at the meeting, held at 345 South Main Street in downtown Harrisonburg.
Basics of breadmaking – Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Come make your own bread with the help of faculty member Tara Kishbaugh. Bring a bowl or bread pan if possible – everything else is provided. Location: second floor lounge of the Cedarwood residence hall
Campus compost project – Thursday at noon
Maybe you’ve heard of the chickens on campus, but have you ever seen them? They play an important role in the university compost project. Learn more about the compost project. Location: Behind Suter Science Center
Campus garden planting – Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Produce from the campus garden is used by the dining hall throughout the summer and for the campus community’s annual harvest meal in the fall.
The student-run campus garden, begun in 2008, provides campus with local produce. Come out and help members of the Sustainable Food Initiative plant the last spring crops. Location: main campus garden (southwest corner of Mt. Clinton and College Ave)
About Earthkeepers
Earthkeepers’ mission is to act in and around the EMU community to encourage, simplify, and implement environmentally friendly practices such as recycling, composting, reducing waste, and monitoring water quality in the Harrisonburg area.
Earthkeepers club members also participate in many other events and activities throughout the year, such as hiking trips, field trips, and organizing guest speakers.
Campus partners of the club include:
- Creation Care Council
- Chemistry department
- Biology department
- Campus Ministries
- Physical Plant
- Campus Activities Council
- Information Systems
- Peace Fellowship
- bike club
For more information on the event or the student club, contact the student life office at (540) 432-4135.