Food Production

0 pounds of organic produce grown on campus annually
0 years of Annual DeHart Local Foods Dinners
1 beehive (coming in spring 2020!)
0 chickens kept on campus
1 wood-fired pizza oven (coming in spring 2020!)

Food is a natural entry point to understanding and practicing sustainable habits. Every time we eat or shop for food, we have an opportunity to support more environmentally sensitive farming practices as well as more humane treatment of animals, more equitable and sustainable food production jobs, less energy- and waste-intensive packaging and transportation, and more complete nutrition for our bodies.

Parkhurst Dining and Catering

Our dining service partner, Parkhurst, emphasizes local and organic purchases through their FarmSource program. Parkhurst minimizes waste by composting and incentivizing reuse through the One Less Cup and Reusable Takeout programs and features low-impact diet options such as vegetarian and vegan at every meal.

Allegheny Dining Services

DeHart Local Foods Dinner

For nearly two decades, the campus community has annually gathered to celebrate the bounty of Crawford County at a banquet featuring dishes prepared with products grown and crafted by local farmers and producers. The dinner is preceded by a market and festival featuring local musicians, lawn games, bike-blended smoothies, a market of local farmers and businesses, locally roasted coffee, and Amish hand pies.

Campus Gardens

Students help cultivate and harvest in several gardens nourished by our campus-produced compost. The Carr Hall Garden produces over 2000 pounds of organic produce annually, which is sent to our dining-service kitchens for inclusion in our meal plans. The IDEAS Cultural Garden, Hillel Garden, and Allegheny Campus Student Garden allow students to explore the nexus of food and culture through gardening and cooking with a community.

Carr Hall Gardens

Aquaponics

The David L. Shipe Memorial Aquaponics System allows students to explore the production of fish, lettuce and herbs which are then featured in campus meals.

Carr Hall Aquaponics

Agriculture & Food in Curriculum

The Environmental Science and Sustainability Department offers several curricular explorations of sustainable agriculture and local food theory—Soil to Plate and Small Scale Agriculture. Students also pursue independent studies and senior comprehensive projects.

Environmental Science and Sustainability