‘It all starts with food’

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.

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.

Read the full story.

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.

Continue reading

Thursday: Precious Plastic, B Corps, more

Here’s what’s scheduled for Thursday, April 4, during Ohio State’s Time for Change Week:

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.