The video was created for the National Wildlife Federation’s Chill Out contest. See more at: www.gogreentube.com/groups/NWFChillOUt2010-2011

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)

91短视频 Earthkeepers

Earthkeepers’ mission is to act in and around the 91短视频 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:

• Peace Fellowship
• bike club

For more information on the event or the student club, contact the student life office at (540) 432-4135.

]]> /now/news/2009/campus-garden-provides-teaching-tools-and-produce/ Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000 http://www.emu.edu/blog/news/?p=1928 An expanding campus garden at 91短视频 will soon, for a second season, provide fresh, organic and local food for the cafeteria while giving students a practical exercise in sustainability.

The garden includes a plot between Brunk House and Martin House on campus and an area across the street at the corner of Mt. Clinton Pike and College Avenue. The garden is being expanded both in square footage and in involvement from students and community members, including university classes that are participating in the project.

Already this spring, “Relating to the Land,” a senior seminar class taught by , associate professor of , and , associate professor of , planted spring oats in the garden while learning the multi-faceted benefits of a cover crop.

New course to utilize garden

, professor of , is teaching a new class, “Sustainable Agriculture,” throughout the fall 2009 semester that will utilize the garden as part of the curriculum. The upper level biology course will cover a range of agricultural topics, such as soil science and crop production, from a sustainable perspective.

“We hope to use the garden as a test plot,” said Graber Neufeld, “by actually trying out different ideas in the garden.”

Trials could include measuring the effect of compost on vegetable production or more experimental additions to the soil, such as charcoal. ()

“Our plan to involve students in the garden while using sustainable techniques,” added Graber Neufeld.

‘Grass roots’ effort included students

, assistant professor of and culture, was the driving force behind the creation of the garden last spring. As a member of the food procurement sub-group of 91短视频’s , Dr. Dula realized that a garden was the most affordable and efficient way to supply the cafeteria with locally grown food.

Several students volunteered to help, brought their friends, and began the process of turning a section of campus lawn into a garden.

Abigail Spurrier, a junior culture, religion and mission major, has been part of the project since the beginning and helped over the summer, weeding and harvesting the garden.

“It’s really exciting to see the garden grow and know it’s a team effort,” Spurrier said. “I’ve found it’s a good place to meet new people and have conversations with professors outside of the classroom.”

Exciting results

Last summer, the garden supplied enough lettuce and spinach to stock the cafeteria’s salad bar during the . Dula and the students also planted and harvested tomatoes, peppers, butternut squash, radishes and grapes.

“We never really knew how much he was bringing,” said dining hall director Bruce Emmerson, “but, we got creative, and we’re definitely glad to have it.”

Though the food grown in the garden may be the most visible crop, Dula believes that there is a greater harvest.

“I’m interested in encouraging students to have a garden of their own once they graduate,” said Dula, “and I’m hoping that working on the garden is cultivating and instilling sustainable habits among students.”