EAC to explore issues surrounding food this week

Skidmore students involved in the Environmental Action Club will host "Food Week" March 26-31.

Sarah Arndt '14, a member of the EAC's Food Working Group (which organized the observance), shared the ideas behind the week of events.

Arndt explained that the Food Working Group recently made the decision to shift its main focus from the Skidmore Student Garden, which the students believe has developed enough to stand on its own. She explained, "Our idea was that...with the garden group functioning independently, the Food Group has the opportunity to expand our work beyond the garden and encompass issues around food and sustainability more generally. Food Week is meant to be a starting point to raise awareness about how food and the environment intersect with other social movements and current events."

The EAC students have aligned with the sponsors of Social Justice Week and a number of campus groups to host and promote the week of events.

Continued Arndt, "We intentionally collaborated with other clubs and organizations on campus to highlight these connections: Social Justice Week, International Affairs Club, the Skidmore Student Garden, Student Nutrition Action Council, the Skidmore Animal Alliance, the Skidmore Dining Hall, and the Film Alliance Troupe. Our hope is to show that social justice, peaceful and productive international relations, good health and nutrition, animal justice, social media, communications, and more, are all interlinked to sustainable food systems." 

The following events will celebrate Food Week on campus. Items with an asterisk* are open only to Skidmore community members.

 Monday, March 26

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Global Hunger Awareness, Dining Hall Atrium: Presented by the International Affairs Club*

6 p.m. - Oxfam Hunger Banquet, Second Floor of D-hall: Presented by Skidmore Social Justice Week*

8:30 p.m. - Hunger Panel, Gannett: Presented by Skidmore Social Justice Week

Tuesday, March 27

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Plant Seedlings, Case Center: Presented by Student Garden*

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - "Random Acts of Compliments," Case Center: Presented by S.N.A.C.*

4-5 p.m. - Food Meditation, Wilson Chapel: Presented by EAC (RSVP to ecohen4@skidmore.edu)

Wednesday, March 28

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Real Food: Skidmore and Beyond, Dining Hall Atrium: Presented by EAC*

6-8 p.m. - Cooking class on health and nutrition, Dining Hall Test Kitchen: Presented by EAC and SNAC * (RSVP REQUIRED to mtatkow@skidmore.edu)

Thursday, March 29

11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Factory Farming, D-Hall Atrium: Presented by the Skidmore Animal Alliance *

5-9 p.m. - Vegetarian Dinner, Dining Hall *

8-10 p.m. - "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" Film Screening, Filene 119: Presented by EAC and FAT (snacks to be provided)

Friday, March 30

10 a.m. - Fair Trade Market, Case Center: presented by Skidmore Social Justice Week *

5-7 p.m. - Cooking Class with Skidmore Head Chef Jim Rose *

D-hall Test Kitchen. Presented by EAC and Dining Hall (Menu: Butternut Squash Risotto, salad, baked apple!)* (RSVP REQUIRED to mgriesme@skidmore.edu)

Saturday, March 31

9 a.m.-1 p.m. - Saratoga Farmers Market, Division Street Elementary School

1:30-5 p.m. - Real Food Challenge Workshop, ICC (Case Center): Presented by E.A.C.* (RSVP to ecohen4@skid)

Real food is ecologically sound, local and/or community based, fair, and humane. Learn about the food service system, the food justice movement, and how you can work with students and the administration to help Skidmore get more real food on campus!

Stefy Narvaez from the organization  Real Food Challenge  will help host a workshop for any interested students who want the tools to get involved at Skidmore! Real Food Challenge supports more than 300 students across the country working with their campus dining services to make real food more available. The workshop will include information about the importance and history of real food, what Skidmore Dining Services is doing to increase the amount of real food being served, and how students can help.