Educators with OSU Extension, CFAES’ outreach arm, are working to provide fresh, healthy food to people in need because of the pandemic, especially in rural areas having few grocery stores. They’ve helped build community gardens, ramp up food pantries, launch local food councils, and more. Read about how they’re helping Ohioans.
social responsibility
Truckload of good
Last year, Ohioans working as Master Gardener Volunteers grew nearly 80,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables—equal to the weight of a fully loaded 18-wheeler, or about 65,000 meals—which they donated to some 101 food pantries across Ohio to help people in need.
Mike Hogan, an OSU Extension educator who facilitates the Master Gardener Volunteers program in Franklin County, said the need for such donations “significantly increased this year due to the pandemic.”
Master Gardener Volunteers are plant lovers who donate their expertise and time serving the public. CFAES’ outreach arm, OSU Extension, runs the program, which gives training and has volunteers in most of the state’s counties.
‘My shadow was just under 3 years old’
“We were all surrounded by the children, each one hanging onto us. With a single tear streaming down a little girl’s face, we all began crying, too,” writes Emily Beal in a recent article on the CFAES Stories website.
‘Minding, mending’ the social fabric of farms
There’s still time to register for the 13th annual Stinner Summit, “Minding and Mending the Social Fabric on Ohio Farms,” which is Friday, Oct. 4, at the Procter Center in London, Ohio. Continue reading ‘Minding, mending’ the social fabric of farms
Study: Air polluters still polluting low-income, black communities
New research by Kerry Ard, a CFAES environmental sociologist, shows that despite an overall improvement in American air quality over the past 70 years, air pollution remains a serious health problem in low-income communities, especially communities of color. Read the story.
‘Environmental justice and equity for all’
The Environmental Professionals Network, a service of CFAES’ School of Environment and Natural Resources, is co-hosting the Ohio Public Interest Environmental Law Conference on Sept. 13 in Columbus. The theme of the event is “Environmental Justice and Equity for All.” “Throughout the day,” the event’s website says, “you’ll hear from speakers sharing stories of past injustices—and the legal actions taken to fix the problem.” Registration is $10 but is free for college students. Learn more.
Teaching kids how to grow food
Next in the ongoing Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series, see an award-winning youth garden focused on food insecurity, year-round growing, hands-on learning, and gardening and nutrition education. It’s Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Highland Youth Garden, located in Columbus’ Hilltop neighborhood. Find out more.
CFAES is one of the series presenters and is the specific presenter of this tour.
Wednesday: What’s your (eco) motivation?
CFAES scientist Douglas Jackson-Smith, professor of water security in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, presents “What Motivates Environmentally Responsible Behavior?” at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, May 1, in the free monthly Wooster Science Café series.
Thursday: Precious Plastic, B Corps, more
Here’s what’s scheduled for Thursday, April 4, during Ohio State’s Time for Change Week:
- Buckeye Precious Plastic demo, 2–4 p.m.
- Cup and Cloth (sustainable menstrual products), 4–5:30 p.m.
- B Corps Summit (certified B Corporations must meet certain social and environmental standards), 6–8 p.m.
- Chopped for Change (vegetarian cooking competition), 6–8 p.m.
Find further details.
Registration open for OEFFA conference
Registration is open for the 40th annual conference of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), set for Feb. 14-16 in Dayton. Scientists from CFAES are typically among the many speakers at the event, which is described as Ohio’s largest sustainable food and farm conference. More than 1,200 people are expected to attend.
Find out more and register.