Summer 2013 is here and it's time for all things green - the glorious offerings of upstate New York being one of them. Bring out your reuseable bags and market hype, folks, it's time to eat seasonally! Luckily, I have the opportunity to provide one Rochester-area community, Geneseo, NY, with a local food program.
The State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) provides grants, what it calls ambassadorships, to a few lucky students who put together projects involving "independent learning and innovative results," according to the grants' website. Lucky me, I was a recipient for my project, Geneseo Eats Local! As a Campus Auxiliary Services Ambassador in Entrepeneurship, I will attempt to increase local consumption in the town of Geneseo while enhancing the college-community ties, attempting to transcend the boundary, both physical and nonphysical, that lies between the student body and the Geneseo community along the way.
Working with the Geneseo Farmers Market and implementing a community-supported agriculture fall share program for off-campus students, college faculty, and community members, it is my hope that Geneseo will benefit from these green initiatives.
The project involves three core aspects:
- Working with the market and the Good Food Collective, a Rochester-based multi-farm CSA, to provide local food through December, and if successful, year round. This work will involve promotional outreach, via communication and distributional material and providing incentives (giveaways, free samples!) for student and community participation in the market and the CSA. I purchased a summer share with the Good Food Collective and I hope to use my first CSA experience to provide advice for those also taking it on for the first time in the fall.
- Organizing a calendar of events including college-community dinners, local food cooking classes, and welcoming speakers at the college. This will also include the community's participation in the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York's Locavore Challenge, held in September.
- Implementing a local food council, comprised of members of the Geneseo campus and community, that will oversee the activity of these events and food systems to ensure their sustainability. Beginning in fall 2013, the council will meet on a monthly basis.
There are always ways to increase participation in these events, and that will be my main question throughout these coming months. The market and CSA will be most sustainable and lasting with participants who choose these alternative food systems to conventional food systems.
It is my hope that the market will see increased attendance and that the first year of the CSA will be successful. With the Geneseo Farmers Market opening June 20, my work now will be focused on student outreach for the market and putting together material to prepare students and community members for their fall CSA share. Thanks for following, if you are; feedback rules!
The State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo) provides grants, what it calls ambassadorships, to a few lucky students who put together projects involving "independent learning and innovative results," according to the grants' website. Lucky me, I was a recipient for my project, Geneseo Eats Local! As a Campus Auxiliary Services Ambassador in Entrepeneurship, I will attempt to increase local consumption in the town of Geneseo while enhancing the college-community ties, attempting to transcend the boundary, both physical and nonphysical, that lies between the student body and the Geneseo community along the way.
Working with the Geneseo Farmers Market and implementing a community-supported agriculture fall share program for off-campus students, college faculty, and community members, it is my hope that Geneseo will benefit from these green initiatives.
The project involves three core aspects:
- Working with the market and the Good Food Collective, a Rochester-based multi-farm CSA, to provide local food through December, and if successful, year round. This work will involve promotional outreach, via communication and distributional material and providing incentives (giveaways, free samples!) for student and community participation in the market and the CSA. I purchased a summer share with the Good Food Collective and I hope to use my first CSA experience to provide advice for those also taking it on for the first time in the fall.- Organizing a calendar of events including college-community dinners, local food cooking classes, and welcoming speakers at the college. This will also include the community's participation in the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York's Locavore Challenge, held in September.
- Implementing a local food council, comprised of members of the Geneseo campus and community, that will oversee the activity of these events and food systems to ensure their sustainability. Beginning in fall 2013, the council will meet on a monthly basis.
There are always ways to increase participation in these events, and that will be my main question throughout these coming months. The market and CSA will be most sustainable and lasting with participants who choose these alternative food systems to conventional food systems.
It is my hope that the market will see increased attendance and that the first year of the CSA will be successful. With the Geneseo Farmers Market opening June 20, my work now will be focused on student outreach for the market and putting together material to prepare students and community members for their fall CSA share. Thanks for following, if you are; feedback rules!
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