August 22, 2011
SIUC, U of I students to participate in ‘field day’
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale students will join students from the University of Illinois in a joint “field day” for the Illinois Organic Growers Association.
The field day, “Involving Institutions in Local Food Systems,” is set for Sept. 1 at the University of Illinois student farm. Pre-registration is a requirement, and those who want the organic box lunch must pre-register by Thursday, Aug. 25.
The SIUC students will join the U of I students in a discussion about their involvement with student farms and with university food buyers. Student members of the SIUC Registered Student Organization LOGIC (Local Organic Initiative of Carbondale) will discuss their group’s establishment of an organic garden at SIUC and how this garden provides food for SIUC’s University Housing dining halls. Representatives from the SIUC dining service and their counterparts at U of I will join the discussion to focus on the needs of institutional food buyers and opportunities to partner with local farms.
The day’s activities also include a tour of U of I’s student farms, and discussion from “The Land Connection,” an educational, not-for-profit organization that seeks to preserve and protect our agricultural heritage by educating both the public and farmers.
The field day and lunch are free to students. Non-students may pay $12 for the lunch, or opt out of lunch and attend for free. The field day runs from 11 am. to 4 p.m.
Pre-register at http://illinoisorganicgrowers.org, or by calling 217/528-1563.