UF Conducts Organics Audits at campus dining locations

As one of many efforts working to understand the University of Florida’s waste streams, Gator Dining Services, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, began conducting audits of the organics waste stream at University of Florida dining facilities. Gator Dining’s Sustainability Manager, Dana Falstad, UF Zero Waste Coordinator, Joseph Floyd, and Office of Sustainability Intern, Kathleen Kirsch, spent many hours sorting waste, weighing food, and educating staff and students about food waste reduction at Broward Fresh Food Company, Gator Corner, Burger King, and the Reitz Union.

Based upon an initial waste audit conducted in 2005, organics accounts for over 15% of UF’s total waste footprint, and thus presents a considerable challenge in meeting the university’s zero waste goal. The information yielded from this organics specific audit will help critically inform the development and implementation of a comprehensive campus composting program.

Most of the waste collected at the dining locations was pre-consumer, or food waste generated during food preparation, with post-consumer waste from plate scrapings measured at some dining facilities. Gator Corner produced the most food waste per day at approximately 787 lbs. Broward Fresh Food Company followed at 770 lbs. of food waste per day, and the Reitz Union at 575 lbs. An audit of Little Hall, Turlington, the Hub, and Racquet Club dining locations is scheduled for this April.

Even with a composting solution is in the works, there are a number of things consumers can do to reduce waste at the source: opt for reusable plates, silverware, and cups as much as possible, check out a reusable to-go container with a valid Gator 1 ID, and most importantly, take only the amount of food one can eat. When campus dining halls went trayless, roughly 60,000 lbs of food waste a day was prevented as people were encouraged to take smaller portions. These small actions, when done collectively, will contribute greatly to UF’s progress toward its goal, with effects that translate far beyond Gainesville. So do your part to REthink waste!

UF asks Gators to reconsider ways to be ‘green’ this spring

The University of Florida Office of Sustainability is hosting “REthink” this spring — a campaign to engage, educate, and empower Gators to consider waste in its many forms and the ways they can REduce, REuse, REcycle, REpurpose, REnew, REstore, and REspond in their own lives.

Now through April 22, members of The Gator Nation and local community are invited to consider their “waste footprint” by participating in interactive, sustainability-focused events on campus and around Gainesville.

The campaign kicked off with REstore, a campuswide cleanup of UF’s natural areas, sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and the UF Clean Water Campaign, on Feb. 5. Nearly 300 volunteers, including UF First Lady Chris Machen, collected approximately 3,000 pounds of trash and recyclables on campus, with members of Greeks Going Green collecting more than 700 pounds of waste from the fraternity conservation area alone. Students from the organization GreenLAW also helped to mulch areas of the law school woods in coordination with the cleanup.

“It is truly inspiring to see that level of participation,” said Anna Prizzia, director of the Office of Sustainability. “However, the amount of litter found in these sensitive areas helps illustrate the necessity of continuing to engage the campus community on the issue of waste.”

Other events for REthink will focus on topics such as plastic bag reduction, disposable coffee cups and sleeves, one-time use water bottles and energy waste.

At 7 p.m. March 22, Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, will speak at the Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom about re-envisioning waste, eco-entrepreneurship and innovation. TerraCycle empowers consumers to collect nonrecyclable waste, which they convert into new products.

Additionally, the Office of Sustainability will host its Campus Earth Month Kickoff Celebration on April 1 at the Plaza of the Americas. UF President Bernie Machen will give his annual State of Sustainability address, followed by the presentation of this year’s Sustainable Solutions Award Recipients. The awards recognize individuals or teams that have made significant contributions toward advancing sustainability at UF. Individuals can submit nominations now through March 15.

As part of the Earth Month Kickoff, people will have the chance to drop off clothes, nonperishable food items, school supplies, books, and hazardous waste to be donated or disposed of properly. “We wanted this year’s event to serve as a time of reflection on past achievements, while also providing the opportunity to respond today,” Prizzia said.

The full schedule of events, along with more information about the campaign, is available at http://www.blogger.com/www.sustainability.ufl.edu.

Student Agricultural Gardens reopen at UF; plots now available

The Student Agricultural Gardens on Museum Road at the University of Florida are back in operation after nearby construction disrupted normal activities. After nearly a year of renovation efforts, a revitalized area is now open for a new generation of exploratory gardeners.

The UF Agronomy and Soils Club manages the gardens and provides information to new gardeners. Garden plots are available in two sizes on a yearly basis: 26 by 21 feet for $35; and 13 by 21 feet for $20.

For more than 30 years, the gardens have provided students, faculty and staff with space in which to pursue and experiment with food production, gardening and sustainability.

“Agriculture is yet another area where each of us can reconnect with something so essential, yet often underappreciated in our culture,” said Anna Prizzia, director of the Office of Sustainability. “With something as intimate as food, the gardens provide a hands-on opportunity for people to explore the origin of what they are eating and recognize the importance of self-sufficiency and being an informed consumer.”

The communal nature of the gardens also provides fulfillment to gardeners of all experience levels.

“There is nothing quite like hands-on experience, especially with something like agriculture,” said student intern Zach Tucker. “The gardens allow people to see a wide variety of crops and methods for growing those crops in a small area, and to connect with each on something so elemental.”

Plots are rented for a period of one year on a first-come first-served basis. It is garden policy that no synthetic pesticides or herbicides be used, and organic practices are preferred. Winter crops are getting under way, so sign up is recommended now.

For information on how to obtain a plot, contact Zach Tucker at tucker@ufl.edu.

Source: University of Florida News

40 Days of Change - Week 5

This week marks days 28 – 34 of the Office of Sustainability’s 40 Days of Change campaign, 40 opportunities to make a CHANGE in your home, life and world. Some of the events on campus and in Gainesville this week include:

The University of Florida Office of Sustainability is proud to host the first Florida Food Summit, April 12-13. The event at UF’s Reitz Student Union will facilitate networking, dialogue, and visioning among members of the Florida food system, and help develop the connections needed for robust farm-to-institution programs.

Monday, April 12

• Challenges and Opportunities for the Food System in Alachua County
  9:45 - 11:00am, Rion Ballroom
• Food on the Lawn Fair and Farmers Market Be a part of the first ever farmers market on campus. Buy local produce and learn about local and state food organizations and efforts, 11:00am - 3:00pm, North Lawn and Terrace
• Challenges and Opportunities for the Florida Food System
  3:30 - 5:00pm, Rion Ballroom
• Michael Dimock, Can Food Be Local, Healthy and Fair?
  8:00pm, Rion Ballroom

Tuesday, April 13

• Basics of Home Gardens
  9:30 - 10:45am – JWRU Room 286
  
• Stories of Local Cheeses, Dairy Farms and Cheese Lovers
  9:30 - 10:45am – JWRU Room 285
  
• Food and Ethics
  11:00am - 12:15pm – JWRU Room 286

• Making Food Visible: Practice and Pedagogy in the Arts
  1:30 - 2:45pm – JWRU Room 286
• Faith and Seed: Sustainable Agriculture and Religious Values
  3:00 - 4:15pm – JWRU Room 286
  
• The Meaning of Labels
  3:00 - 4:15pm – JWRU Room 285
• Range, Furrow and Grove: Images of Florida Agriculture
  5:00 - 7:00pm – JWRU Gallery
• Robert Stone and Carlton Ward, Jr., Florida Cowboys: Reflections on the Past and Visions for the Future
  7:30pm Rion Ballroom

All Food Summit events are free and open to the public.

For more information visit:
http://www.sustainability.ufl.edu/what-can-you-do/FoodSummit.html

40 Days of Change - Week 4

This week marks days 21 – 27 of the Office of Sustainability’s 40 Days of Change campaign, 40 opportunities to make a CHANGE in your home, life and world. Some of events on campus and in Gainesville this week include:

FOOD WEEK - 5 Days, 5 Issues Sponsored by UF Student Organizations

Diverse student groups will host events highlighting the problems, solutions, and opportunities presented by our current food system. The events will cover local to global food issues. Come hungry and be prepared to leave with a full stomach and mind.

Monday April 5
Stop Hunger Now!
Broward Basement, 630pm-830pm

Tuesday April 6
Be Organic & Slow Food
Plaza of the Americas, 1pm-3pm

Wednesday April 7
Young Farmers and the Future of Agriculture
New Physics Building 1002, 630pm-830pm

Thursday April 8
The True Cost of Food
Williamson Hall 100, 630pm-830pm

Friday April 9
The Bitter Side of Sugar
CSE E119, 6pm-8pm

Saturday April 10
The Old Homestead Trail
Dudley Farm, 10am-12pm

Sunday April 11
Food and Faith: A Panel Discussion on Sustainability, Food and Religion
Friends of the Music Room, University Auditorium

Next week's events include the Florida Food Summit (April 12 - 13). The event at UF’s Reitz Student Union will facilitate networking, dialogue, and visioning among members of the Florida food system, and help develop the connections needed for robust farm-to-institution programs. All FFS events are free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, follow the links below.

Food Summit Day 1: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=105157976186258&ref=ts

Food on the Lawn Farmers Market and Fair: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=108291702532173&ref=ts

Food Summit Day 2: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=108765575813525&ref=ts

UF Food Summit to showcase issues surrounding Florida food systems, sustainability

The University of Florida Office of Sustainability will host the first Florida Food Summit April 12-13. The event at UF’s Reitz Student Union will facilitate networking, dialogue, and visioning among members of the Florida food system, and help develop the connections needed for robust farm-to-institution programs.

The summit is part of the Office of Sustainability’s 40 Days of Change campaign – a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

The event will commence with a welcome reception, followed by public panels focusing on local food systems at the local and state level. Additional events include film screenings, multimedia presentations and a “Food on the Lawn” fair and farmers market. “Food on the Lawn” will take place on UF’s Plaza of the Americas from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12, and feature food demonstrations, educational displays and local produce for sale. A photography exhibition, “Range, Furrow, and Grove: Images of Florida Agriculture,” will also be on display April 5-17 in the Reitz Student Union Gallery.

Michael Dimock, executive director of Roots for Change, will present a keynote speech on sustainable food system development. The presentation will take place the evening of April 12. Robert Stone, outreach coordinator for Florida Folklife Program, will present “Florida Cowboys and Agricultural History” the evening of April 13.

A special workshop will be held April 13 for local and national stakeholders invited to share their knowledge on and ideas for creating and accelerating farm-to-institution programs.

Additional programs hosted in the days leading up to the event will complement the summit program and include movie showings, student-led programs and a panel entitled “Food and Faith,” featuring local religious leaders.

Sponsors of the event include Alachua County, Aramark Higher Education and Darden Restaurants, along with considerable support from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in planning and participation.