By director jenn halpin
The Student Garden hosted its second annual LOCAL FOOD DINNER CELEBRATION on Saturday, March 25 th with great success! Prior to the dinner, students and community members were invited to visit an indoor farmers' market lined with local producers selling fruit, cheeses, soaps, candles, and more! The market customers were serenaded throughout the market by Dickinson student musicians who shared their remarkable talents.
The actual dinner featured 99% locally produced ingredients, from grass-fed organic beef and Yukon Gold potatoes to salad greens and ice cream. The buffet seemed endless and packed with deliciously prepared morsels of food which was raised on nearby farms. The Dining Service chefs and catering staff made sure that the 175 dinner guests were completely satisfied with the evening's feast.
Nina Planck, the child of vegetable farmers in Virginia spoke at the event. She shared her experiences from growing up in an agrarian family which has inspired her to pursue a career in local food initiatives, namely establishing economically sustainable farmers' markets in the United States and in England . Nina's insight on nutrition, sustainability, and farm initiatives proved educational and inspirational for her audience.
The Student Garden aims to increase awareness on local food and local economy initiatives both on campus and within the Carlisle community. Events such as the LOCAL FOOD DINNER CELEBRATION prove to bring people together not only to celebrate the bounty of our region but also to emphasize the importance of supporting local farmers and preserving farmland. Without education and a better understanding of where our food comes from, there is little hope for a more sustainable future. Thus, events such as this unite people and instigate change.