In This Issue

New Class Opportunity!

ENS 480: Sustainable Agriculture Practicum

Drawing from the traditions of Wendell Berry and J.I. Rodale among others, this course will focus on both the motivations for and techniques of small-scale organic market gardening. Students will engage both physical and mental challenges as we spend time grappling with the complex socio-economic and ecological implications of conventional agriculture while introducing practices used in small-scale organic farming. Techniques discussed in the course will include soil conservation, compost building, seed propagation, season extension, crop-rotation, harvesting, post-harvest handling, direct marketing, biological control, and a variety of others. Courses will be predominately held in the field at the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project when weather permitting and will also include field trips to visit other local growers.

Open to sophomores, juniors or seniors in environmental studies, liberal studies, or other related fields.  No prerequisite courses.

Friday, 9:00 - 12:00, Mackinac Hall B1126 or the GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project

For more information, contact Levi Gardner at gardnele@gvsu.edu.

Sustainable Department Ambassador Page

The Sustainable Community Development Initiative (SCDI) is currently in the process of meeting with every department on campus to establish sustainable department ambassadors, who will be a volunteer contact for their department.

By establishing sustainable department ambassadors, we are encouraging faculty and staff to talk with their sustainable department ambassador to generate new and exciting ideas that can be created.

Visit the Sustainable Department Ambassador Page Here

GVSU Farmers Market

The fresh fruit and veggies are back! Visit the Farmers Market every Wednesday through September 26 from 10:00am - 1:30pm on the Allendale campus, Parking Lot F.

Stop by the Farmers Market and support local vendors as well as GVSU's Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) to purchase fresh and local produce.

For More Information Click Here

GVSU Donates Trophies to Michigan Special Olympics

GVSU took a sustainable step by donating 70 trophies to the Michigan Special Olympics Summer Games. Bart Bartels suggested the trophies be reused after a custodian found them in the Fieldhouse Arena.

The trophies were replated and polished by a local business and were given to gold, silver and bronze winners during the games.

For the entire article, click here.

 

Honey Bee Apiary

The GVSU Holland campus launched the honey bee apiary on June 20th. This location was chosen because it provides a rural environment for the bees who would benefit from the neighboring blueberry farmers and VanRaalty Farm.

For more information about beekeeping at the Holland campus take a look at this Lanthorn article.

Honey Bee Apiary