Earth Week recap

Lots happened leading up to Earth Day 2019 and extended into a whole week+ of programming!

A group from the community petitioned the Marshall County Commissioners to adopt a resolution in support of Earth Week, encouraging our residents to attend and participate in community initiatives.

We also visited Jefferson Elementary school and did an Earth Day presentation for some 3rd graders.

We capped the presentation with a wildflower “seed bomb” project, rolling in milkweed & other seeds into some clay, then using Earth Day to get outside and throw the little seed-bombs out into the wild! It was a blast.

We capped the community events with the 2nd annual Earth Hug Boogie festival. You can see more on it’s Facebook page.

Last but certainly not least, a team of us organized a week of lunchtime Earth Week programing, this year around the issue of food. The text below is from a summary e-mail that was sent out after the event, and includes links to photos and video. Enjoy!

Thank you to all who were able to come out to our 2019 Earth Week programming in Cana Hall. This year’s theme was FOOD. We wanted to make all the resources & videos available to those who were unable to attend, and for those off-site.

A big round of applause for the organizing committee & all the many co-workers & Sisters at TCAD who assisted in making this possible.

RESOURCES:

Hunger and Poverty Snapshot for Indiana (Bread for the World)

Boosts and Blocks of Building Wealth (Fair Economy)

50 foods for healthier people & a healthier planet (WWF & Korr; NPR coverage; also, recent big news on a nationwide roll-out of Impossible Burgers)

VIDEOS:

Food & Social Justice (52 min), featuring:

*Arleen Peterson, Director of Operations, Sojourner Truth House; Board Member, Northwest Indiana Food Council

*Angela Rupchock-Schafer, Director of Development and Communications, Marshall County Community Foundation; Board Member, Bread for the World; Chair, Marshall County Food Council

*Laura Dwire, HEAL Program Manager, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation

Future of Food (44 min), featuring:

*Danielle LaFleur, Community Outreach Coordinator, St. Joseph Health System; Member, Marshall County Food Council

*Christine Stinson, Administrator, Marshall County Health Department.

*Chris Kline, Senior Instructor and Sustainability Director at Culver Academies; Member, Marshall County Food Council

Food Production & Farming (46 min), featuring:

*Sam Erwin, Owner/Operator of Indiana Berry and Plant Company

*Tim McLochlin, Director of Agriculture, Ancilla College

*Robert (Bob) Yoder, Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue University

Photos can be found at The Center at Donaldson Facebook page.

Until next year… “Love the Earth, Eat Local!”