Food Day

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  • Food Day 2024

    World Food Day is an international event promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 

    Calendar of events:

    • Friday, Oct 18, 12-2 pm
      World Food Day tabling with ECO Agency
      Pass by the Westbrook Walkway near the Shalala Center to learn what you can do to fight food insecurity on campus, join the ECO Food Alert, or help the Canes Food Pantry. Complimentary food samples.
    • Friday, Oct 18, 5-6 pm
      Food Garden 101 - REGISTER NOW
      Gardening in Florida can be both incredibly rewarding and entirely frustrating. Our subtropical climate is perfect for growing an abundance of different vegetables, fruits, and herbs, but the challenges can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. Learn with experts from the  Miami Dade UF/IFAS Extension Urban Horticulture Program. Join us in Campos Sano building, room 250, 1300 Campo Sano Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33146

    • Saturday, Oct 19, 10 am - 12 pm
      Tour of the Agro Eco Park - REGISTER NOW
      Agro Eco Park is an initiative aimed at showcasing the principles of agroecology to both farmers and the local community. It’s our chance to do Agroecology. Our mission is to promote environmentally conscious and socially responsible farming practices in south Florida, even in the face of challenging conditions such as inert
      soil, harsh climate, and limited resources. 
      The tour will start at 10 am: 18905 SW 280th St, Homestead, FL 33031- Map
      (choose carpooling if possible). Click here for instructions and directions

  • Food Day 2023

    KEYNOTE - Wednesday Oct. 18, 6 - 8 pm at the Frost Insitute for Chemistry and Molecular Science Room 115

    • "Your Diet Makes a Difference"
      Speaker: Prof. Jennifer Jacquet - Abess Center for Ecosystem Science Policy

      Prof. Jennifer Jacquet is interested in the social science and policy dimensions of industrial fisheries, aquaculture, as well as meat and dairy production. Dr. Jacquet earned a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Studies from the University of British Columbia and her dissertation was titled “Fish As Food in an Age of Globalization.” Today, she has several projects on how the animal agriculture industry engages in climate politics, and published op-ed in the Washington Post about “The meat industry is doing exactly what Big Oil does to fight climate action." She will give a broad overview of the global animal food system and its environmental impacts, focusing in on climate change, climate politics, and water use. 
      RSVP now


    FAIR FOOD FAIR - Wednesday, Oct. 18, 11 am - 2 pm
    on the Lakeside Patio - 
    Free Admission 

    Join us and learn about healthy eating, urban farming, community gardens, food donations, and get involved with Miami Dade Real Food network!

    Miami Dade County UF Extension: Learn about water conservation and composting from MDC which brings cutting edge conservation research to our South Florida gardens, farms and community. Learn more

    Edible South Florida: The #1 magazine for Real Food, Farmers market, local growers, local chefs and everything related to food systems in SE Florida

    Compost 4 Life: learn how the veggie scrap form UM dining halls'itchen turn into soil amendment for small farmers. Learn more
    Common Threads: Providing children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits. Learn more

    Green Tomato:
    Organic fruits and vegetables from local farms to your door, with zero-waste delivery. Learn more

    Urban Greenworks:
    Urban GreenWorks (UGW) started 10 years ago with the goals of providing south Floridans with improved access to, availability of, and advocacy for healthy local, organic foods, urban farming & environmental education, horticulture therapy, and volunteer opportunities. Learn more

    Urban Oasis Project: Growing the local food movement in Miami-Dade since 2008. Making Fresh Local Food Accessible & Available to All. Learn more

    Fruit and Spice Park:
    Today, the Fruit & Spice Park is a 37-acre subtropical paradise nestled in the heart of the historic Redland community just 35 miles south of Miami. Surrounded by thousands of acres of tropical agriculture, the Park is a jewel in South Florida’s agricultural community. Learn more

    ECO Agency:
    Students can come pick their Vegan Meal Kit!

    ECO Food Pantry:
    Discover how you can help!

    UM Sustainability Garden: Plants on display and to take away!

    Green U: Come taste our delicious organic Ice Tea!

    UM Sustainability Garden: Dr. Weisskoff students and the CommUnity Garden Club will have some bites of their latest harvest and some good tips on what to grow.

    Plant Based Canes: delicious recipe that lower your eco footprint!

    Event organized by
    the OFFICE of CIVIC and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
    Sponsored by
    the Butler Center for Service and Leadership,
    Student Government ECO Agency, Office of Sustainability.

    Food Day Events
    Oct. 19, 5.30 - 7.30 pm
    Women's Commission Cooking Demonstration with One Book One U: Jamaican dishes cooking at the Wellness Center 2nf Floor Kitchen. Learn more

    Oct. 19, 6 - 9 pm
    Meet Florida Fish Farmers with Sereia Films and Slow Food Miami at SALT Waterfront Restaurant on the Rosenstiel campus. Learn more

    Oct. 28 - 29
    Tropical Harvest Heritage Festival at the Fruit and Spice Park, festival organized by Bee Haven Farm.  Learn more

    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN is hosting a Global Food Day event

     

  • Food Day 2022

    2022 finds us with an ongoing pandemic, conflict, a climate that won’t stop warming, rising prices and international tensions. This is affecting global food security. We need to build a sustainable world where everyone, everywhere has regular access to enough nutritious food.
    "No one should be left behind".

    Calendar:

    • KEYNOTE - Monday, Oct. 17, 6-7 pm 
      RECORDING
      (password: #y#*n5Pc)

      "Paving Paths to More Sustainable Food Systems"
      Speaker:  Dr. Rose Koenig, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

      Rose Koenig is the interim director for the Global office for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS Global) and a lecturer at the University of Florida. She has previously served as a co-director of the university’s Center for Organic Agriculture and also operated a 17-acre organic farm with one of the state’s first Community Supported Agriculture programs. Previously, she worked with the Rodale Institute in Africa. Koenig holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in international agricultural development from UC Davis, and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Florida. She conducted her doctoral research on the fungus that causes Panama's Disease in Honduras.

    FAIR FOOD FAIR - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 am -2 pm
    on the Lakeside Patio - 
    Free Admission 

    Join us and learn about healthy eating, urban farming, community gardens, food donations, and get involved with Miami Dade Real Food network!

    Miami Dade County UF Extension: Learn about water conservation and composting from MDC which brings cutting edge conservation research to our South Florida gardens, farms and community. Learn more

    Edible South Florida: The #1 magazine for Real Food, Farmers market, local growers, local chefs and everything related to food systems in SE Florida

    UM Dining: Come try some delicious vegan bites and learn about
    all the vegan options offered on campus!

    Common Threads: Providing children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits. Learn more

    Urban Greenworks: Urban GreenWorks (UGW) started 10 years ago with the goals of providing south Floridans with improved access to, availability of, and advocacy for healthy local, organic foods, urban farming & environmental education, horticulture therapy, and volunteer opportunities. Learn more

    Urban Oasis Project: Growing the local food movement in Miami-Dade since 2008. Making Fresh Local Food Accessible & Available to All. Learn more

    Fruit and Spice Park:
    Today, the Fruit & Spice Park is a 37-acre subtropical paradise nestled in the heart of the historic Redland community just 35 miles south of Miami. Surrounded by thousands of acres of tropical agriculture, the Park is a jewel in South Florida’s agricultural community. Learn more

    ECO Agency:
    Students can come pick their Vegan Meal Kit!

    ECO Food Pantry:
    Discover how you can help!

    UM Sustainability Garden: Plants on display and to take away!

    Green U: Come taste our delicious organic smoothie!

    UM Sustainability Garden: Dr. Weisskoff students and the CommUnity Garden Club will have some bites of their latest harvest and some good tips on what to grow.

    Plant Based Canes: delicious recipe that lower your eco footprint!

    Chartwells: Many Vegan options on campus!

    Event organized by
    the OFFICE of CIVIC and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
    Sponsored by
    the Butler Center for Service and Leadership,
    Student Government ECO Agency, Office of Sustainability.

  • Food Day 2021

    Oct 18, 6 pm - 7.30 pm
    Agri-food systems for healthy communities. RSVP Now

    Our three panelists are local food experts that have been working on the relationship between sustainable food systems and the health of our communities for decades.

    • Thi Squire, founder of the Grow to Heal program - bio

      Thi Squire, Community Garden Project Manager of the Grow2Heal Garden at Homestead Hospital, is trying to change the food system within health care. The Grow2Heal community garden at Homestead Hospital is a creative solution to ongoing challenges with chronic disease management and preventive healthcare. Hospital leadership dedicated vacant land adjacent to the hospital to develop an organic – and sustainable – garden as a way to offer the community fresh, nutritious foods with a far-reaching impact. The three-acre garden can potentially grow 30,000 pounds of produce annually, and is served to patients, visitors and hospital staff. It is also used to educate the community through school fieldtrips, health fairs, cooking demonstrations, wellness workshops, and support groups.

    • Roger Horne, Ex. Director of Urban Green Works - bio

      Roger Horne graduated from Cornell University before earning his master’s degree in health administration and public health from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the executive director of Urban GreenWorks, and the driving force behind their Community Food Security Initiative. After his work with Miami’s Food Policy Council, he spearheaded efforts to establish city guidelines and permitting for community-owned markets, community gardens, and urban agriculture. He works with groups across the social spectrum and advocates for green design and community jobs training.
    • Dr. Franziska Alesso Bendisch, UN Association USA Miami Board Member | Founder & Principal Better Food Partners - bio

      Franziska is a former corporate executive and Big4 management consultant with 17+ years experience in helping organizations in the agriculture and food & beverage space build the food system of the future through strategy development, execution, and collaboration. As the Sustainability lead at Bayer CropScience LatAm, as a former management consultant at PwC and as the Principal of Better Food Partners, her success in optimizing processes and developing platforms and programs that maximize ROI and create benefits for society has excited large, multi-billion-dollar clients, SMEs and stakeholders alike. Since her experience spans the whole food value chain from farm to fork and beyond, she is one of the few that connects and communicates effectively with all involved groups.

    presented by the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, in collaboration with other university partners such as the Butler Center for Service and Leadership, Office of Sustainability, the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, and Student Government ECO Agency

    Oct 19, 11 am -2 pm
    Fair Food Fair on the Rock Plaza - 
    Free Admission 
    Join us and learn about healthy eating, urban farming, community gardens, food donations, and get involved with Miami Dade Real Food network!

    ECO-Canes Food Pantry: Discover how you can help!

    UM Sustainability Garden: Plants on display and to take away!

    Plant Based Canes: delicious recipe that lower your eco footprint!

    Chartwells/Fresh Fusion: the number Vegan option on campus!

    Miami Dade County UF Extension: Learn about water conservation and composting from MDC which brings cutting edge conservation research to our South Florida gardens, farms and community. Learn more

    Edible South Florida: The #1 magazine for Real Food, Farmers market, local growers, local chefs and everything related to food systems in SE Florida

    Common Threads: Providing children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits 

    Feeding South Florida: Help donate food and solve hunger in South Florida. Learn more

    Oct 19, 4 pm - 6 pm
    Planting and Beautifying at the Miller School of Medicine Food and Garden

    Join the biomedical graduate and medical students at the Miller Herb and Food Garden on October 19, to enjoy festivities celebrating sustainable food systems and the therapeutic power of food. There will be tours of our "Food Forest," crafts to take home or adorn the garden, and a planting session to celebrate this day. The event will take place at the garden, located in front of the Calder Library; available on a first come, first served basis. We hope to see you there!

    Planting and maintenance in the garden with the Miller Green Student Committee
    Check out these recipes made from ingredients harvested in the Miller garden: VIDEO coming on Oct 18. Register now with Monika Chojnacka: mxc2354@miami.edu 

    • southern fried okra (sprinkle some chives at the top)
    • creole stewed okra with tomatoes and onion
    • spinach pasta tossed in a nutty brown butter and sage sauce
    • saag aloo (an Indian potato spinach dish)

    Garden Stone Project

    The Arts in Medicine program, led by Leah Andritsch invite you in the Miller garden to participate in a stone painting project. RSVP is very limited, contact Leah Andritsch, l.andritsch@med.miami.edu 

    Food Day on Social Media
    On Oct 18, visit miami.edu/foodday to check great new videos of plant based cooking demonstrations hosted by UM Dining Chef, Joel Chamizo and Plant Based Canes. Preparing a vegan dish has never been so easy!
    Find the ingredients list for each recipe below. 

    Join us for a virtual Tropical Fruit Crunch! 
    Participate in a social media effort to raise awareness on healthy eating and access to fresh fruit and vegetables.  Post a fruit-crunching selfie on Instagram with the hashtag #FoodHeroes and tag us at @umiami_civicengagement. (Feel free to also tag #WorldFoodDay and #CaneCrunch on your posts!)




    Recipe ingredients:

    Cinnamon Apple Energy Bites:2 cups of Oats; 1/4 cup of Flax seeds ground; 1 teaspoon of cinnamon; 1/2 cup of Nut-Free WOW Butter; 1/cup of Maple Syrup; 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract; 1 pinch of Salt.

     

    Cashew Porridge: 1 tablespoon of cashew butter, plus 1 teaspoon for topping;1 teaspoon of cinnamon; 3/4 cup of almond milk (50 ml); 1/2 cup of boiling water (50 ml); 1/2 cup of quinoa flakes (50g); 1 small banana.

     

    Beet Poke Bowl: 1 1/2 cups of beet cut into 1/2 inch cubes; 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt; 2 cups Water; 2 Scallions, chopped; 1/4 cup Cilantro; 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds, toasted; Norii, shredded; 3 cups White Rice; 1 teaspoon White Rice Vinegar; 1/4 cup Ginger; 2 tablespoon Soy sauce; 1/4 cup Sugar; 1/4 cup sesame oil; 1/4 Red Cabbage sliced; 1 Carrot shredded; 3 rasdishes shredded.

     


     

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    2020 EDITION

    Oct. 20, 7 pm - Spilling the Tea on Food Sustainability  
    Join ECO Agency, Food Recovery Network, Plant Based Canes, and CommUnity Garden for a panel discussion about the importance of food sustainability, and learn how these student organizations are addressing it on-campus and in the local community. 

     

    Resources:
    - Community Supported Agriculture in Miami Dade
    - Composing drop off sites
    - Florida Food Policy Council


    Oct. 21, 12.15 pm - Food Heroes in our community   
    "Watering the deserts: Geeting fresh food to underserved neighborhoods with Urban Oasis Project" Keynote Speakers: Art Friedrich, President of the Urban Oasis Project, created the Food Justice Veggie Box Program, now known as Project Maracuja, which provides Community Supported Agriculture food boxes for SNAP recipients. Over the last three months, Project Maracuja, has provided local fruits, vegetables, and cleaning supplies bi-weekly to over 100 families impacted by the effects of the pandemic. Art Friedrich, will be accompanied by Ashley Varela, Project Maracuya Coordinator and Chantelle Sookram, Operations manager of Urban Oasis Project to talk about the problems and finding solutions to the local problems of hunger that support our farms and our communities. Abstract Here

     

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    2019 EDITION

    Oct 14th, 6 pm:
    "Tea Revives the World: How the advertising industry taught us all to love tea" by Erika Rappaport
    at the Kislak Center

    This year, we will be hosting a keynote speaker, Dr. Erika Rappaport, Professor of History, at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  She will discuss her recent book, A Thirst for Empire: How Tea Shaped the Modern World, in which she will examine the history of tea from three interconnected perspectives. 
    The event will begin with a reception from 6:00-6:30, in which guests will have an opportunity to view a display of historical cookbooks, presented by our own Richter Library’s Special Collections. Download the flyer
    Free Admission. Food and beverages will be served. RSVP Now
    Kislak Center Direction here.


    Oct 15th, 7 pm: Plant Based Cooking Masterclass
    at the Wellness Center - Room 232 Classroom 1

    Eating healthy, plant based is easy, come learn how to prepare fast, local, vegan recipes. Samplings of the menu will be served at the end of the demonstration. Plant Based Canes, U Cook and CommUnity Garden Club are hosting!

    Fin the list of recipes here. Some of them come from our Special Collections at the Richter Library!
    Free admission. RSVP Now

    Oct 16th, 11 am - 2 pm: Fair Food Fair
    at the UC Whitten lower lounge

    Free Admission - UC Whitten Lower Lounge
    Come enjoy a free smoothie, vegan recipes, learn about healthy eating, urban farming, community gardens, and get involved with Miami Dade Real Food network!

    1 pm - Tropical Fruit Crush Picture at the U Statue 
    Participate in a social media effort to raise awareness on healthy eating and access to fresh fruit and vegetables.  Have a bite of our delicious tropical fruit!

    Our partners:

    UM Freedom Fresh Table: Raising Fresh Produce For Our Community!

    UM Dining Services: Greener Fields Together initiative and samples from Fresh Fusion.

    Student Health Services & Green U: Come taste our fresh organic smoothie.

    The Herbert Wellness Center and U Cook: Vegan easy recipes and samples

    Bee Heaven Farm: Learn about Bee Haven Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and how you can support local South Florida farmers.

    Back2Earth: learn how to compost in Miami Dade

    Hungry Harvest: Learn more

    Urban Oasis: Learn about the incredible job Urban Oasis is doing in the Urban Oasis Project.

    Miami Dade County UF Extension: Learn about water conservation and composting from MDC which brings cutting edge conservation research to our South Florida gardens, farms and community. Learn more

    UM Food Recovery Network: Learn more

    Edible South Florida: The #1 magazine for Real Food, Farmers market, local growers, local chefs and everything related to food systems in SE Florida

    Common Threads: Founded by Chef Art Smith and artist Jesus Salgueiro in 2003, Common Threads grew out of the belief that family and food have the power to nurture and strengthen us, to connect us to culture and community, and to teach and excite us about our world. Learn more

    Fruit & Spice Park: The Fruit & Spice Park was the realization of one woman’s vision to create a showcase for the rich agricultural bounty and heritage of the area known as Redland. 

    Wellness in the Schools: WITS can be life-changing; by exposing a student to nutritious and better quality food, we can  have a lifelong impact. Learn more

    Health in the Hood: Help community be healthier, eat better. Learn more

    Feeding South Florida: Help donate food and solve hunger in South Florida. Learn more

     

    Visit tables from UM Student Organizations who care about Food Integrity in the Lakeside patio:
    Green Committee / ECO Agency, CommUnity Garden, Plant Based Canes, and Dr. Hood and Dr. Weisskoff classes.

     

     

     

     

     

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    FULL PROGRAM 2018:

    October 22nd, 4.30 pm - An Edible Stroll through Arboretum

    Arboretum Curator, Tim Perez will take you on a special tour of the Gifford Arboretum to discover the many fruits and edibles hidden in it. Meet us at the Stone Circle in the Arboretum

    October 23rd, 6 pm - Film Screening: "Forks over Knives"

    Free Admission - Vegan Zero Waste buffet - Ungar 230-C/D 
    Introduction by Juan Endara, UM Design and Construction Project Manager and Veganism advocate, Hosted by Student Government ECO Agency. RSVP here.

    October 24th, 6 pm - Panel Discussion: "Locally Grown: Food Advocacy and Sustainability in South Florida"

    RSVP NOW
    Free Admission - Kislak Center - Reception with food and refreshments
    Panelists:
    - Michelle Benesch - Slow Food Miami
    - Art Friedrich - Urban Oasis Project
    - Allyce Perrit Gentil - Wellness in the Schools 
    Asha Loring - Health in the Hood
    - Taryn Dennie - Food Recovery Network UM
    - Drigo Richardson "The Alchemist" - www.drigothealchemist.com

    Learn more: Bios


    October 24th, 11 am to 2 pm - Fair Food Fair 

    Free Admission - UC Whitten Lower Lounge
    Come enjoy a free smoothie, vegan recipes, learn about healthy eating, urban farming, community gardens, and get involved with Miami Dade Real Food network!

    1 pm - Tropical Fruit Crush Picture at the U Statue 
    Participate in a social media effort to raise awareness on healthy eating and access to fresh fruit and vegetables.  Have a bite of our delicious tropical fruit!
        

    Bios:

    Local Food Panel

    Locally Grown: Food Advocacy and Sustainability in South Florida

     

    Michele Benesch, Slow Food Miami

    Michele Baker Benesch is a Miami native with a passion to helping our community stay true to its roots while becoming a mecca power city. She graduated from Palmer Preparatory High School, then earned her undergraduate degree from University of Miami with a BA in Business Marketing. After working in corporate marketing for ten years, Michele opened a division of her family’s company, Menu Men, in New York City.  Upon returning to Miami to assume the leadership role with Menu Men, Michele realized the lack of awareness for fresh local produce and products in the community she cherished. She immediately became a member of Slow Food Miami and supported the movement through attending events. Five years ago Michele wanted to help make a difference and joined the Board of Directors as the Farm to Table Director. She created the Hidden Kitchens fundraising program as well as initiated The Snail of Approval Program here in Miami. Three years ago Michele accepted the Presidency and has been passionate about helping Slow Food Miami grow and make a difference in our community through all of their amazing outreach programs. Michele also sits on the Miami Children’s Hospital Wine, Women and Shoes Committee; the Big Brothers, Big Sisters gala committee; and is the Beaux Arts Miami organization. ?

    Allyce Perret-Gentil, Wellness in the Schools

    Allyce Perret-Gentil was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from Westminster Christian School and from there received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Florida Gulf Coast University. After having difficulty finding a hospital nursing job, Allyce was offered to teach a High School Health class. Her spark for education grew, especially in health education. It became a goal of hers to encourage children and teens to eat vegetables and take care of themselves. She worked for five years as the school nurse at St. Philip’s Episcopal School in Coral Gables. She started a Board of Health at her school, with the help of some parents, and their goal was to introduce fresh and local snacks to the children at their school on a daily basis. Allyce always tells children in her classes, “Some of us may choose careers that involve more math than history or more English than science. Yet being educated on how to take care of ourselves affects everybody”. Although Allyce loved her position at St. Philip’s, she was offered a very exciting position to help start the non-profit organization Wellness in the Schools down here in South Florida. Allyce is now the Program Director for Wellness in the Schools, South Florida. Wellness in the Schools teaches kids healthy habits to learn and live better.

     

    Art Friedrich, Urban Oasis Project

     Art Friedrich is a dedicated food activist on many fronts. Art believes food unites us across all cultures and backgrounds and preserves our health and heritage. He sees his passion for healthy food as a spiritual matter as well as a basic human right and need. He builds coalitions with diverse groups that show dedication to improving our health landscape.  Urban Oasis Project has supported the local food movement for 9 years, and has operated Farmers Markets that double SNAP dollars, a Fruit & Veggie Prescription program, built over 100 home gardens and much more.

    Asha Loring, Health in the Hood

    Asha Walker is the Executive Director and founder of Health in the Hood, a non-profit organization that builds vegetable gardens in underserved communities. Health in the Hood urban gardens serve as living classrooms where children and families enjoy free, healthy foods and nutrition & fitness workshops. Asha Walker is the Executive Director and founder of Health in the Hood, a non-profit organization that builds vegetable gardens in underserved communities. Health in the Hood urban gardens serve as living classrooms where children and families enjoy free, healthy foods and nutrition & fitness workshops. Asha believes that growing vegetables for families in food deserts creates connections to food choices and makes healthy eating attainable and exciting.  She hopes that by building community gardens and providing health education in low-income neighborhoods, Health in the Hood is putting children on the path to healthy futures, preventing disease, giving parents helpful information and creating environments that support healthy choices.

     

    Taryn Dennie, UM’s Food Recovery Network Chapter

    Taryn is an Ecosystem Science and Policy major, active board member of the ECO Agency. She has been working on our new Green Office certification program, our Recycling Education Outreach program and event planning for the Fall of 2016. "Until two years ago, I had never even heard of “sustainability”. I probably could have given you a simple dictionary definition, but I had no idea what it meant as a concept or lifestyle. When I took AP Environmental Science my senior year of high school, it changed my life in every way. To me sustainability is living your life only taking what you need, and leaving the rest for others and other generations. Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” While this quote is very well known, it’s what I base my life on. I have seen it come to fruition through the small group of passionate teachers who led me down this path to the work that I get to participate in on ECO. Being able to contribute further to the sustainability of this campus is a dream position for me"

    Drigo Richardson, Drigo the Alchemist

    Drigo Richardson is a Miami based health-supportive Culinary Alchemist. He is a natural foods chef, cooking class instructor, and wellness consultant specializing in raw food, vegan, vegetarian & plant based cuisine. Drigo grew up around griots who told stories with their food. He comes from a family of restaurateurs, cooks, dubbers, bubblahs, and rubbas. Generations of history from several Caribbean islands are encoded in his DNA, so the saga of heritage speaks through his food. The term "Culinary Alchemist"™ refers to a person who uses organic ingredients creatively and carefully transforms them into nutritious and healing dishes. Keeping in mind flavor profiles, the consumers’ optimal health and using the freshest, local, sustainable produce into amazing dishes. Drigo is known to prepare diverse traditional dishes into healthy vegan options for those with dietary constraints that miss that good home cooking. He is knowledgeable of most dietary requirements including but not limited to: Vegan, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Diabetic, and Gluten free.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Food Day 2017
    October 24, 6 pm - "The World That Food Made"by
    Award winning writer and Food Security expert, RAJ PATEL

    Free Admission - Shoma Hall, School of Communication (room 3053 - Communication International Building - map)
    Reception with food and refreshments from 6 pm to 6.30pm  - Please RSVP now

    Raj Patel is an award-winning writer, activist and academic. He is a Research Professor in the Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin and a Senior Research Associate at the Unit for the Humanities at the university currently known as Rhodes University (UHURU), South Africa.

    He is also a Food and Community Fellow at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. He has testified about the causes of the global food crisis to the US House Financial Services Committee and is an Advisor to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. In addition to numerous scholarly publications in economics, philosophy, politics and public health journals, he regularly writes for newspapers all over the country. His first book, Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System (2007), suggests steps to regain control of the global food economy, stop the exploitation of farmers and consumers, and rebalance global sustenance.

    His latest, The Value of Nothing (2010), explores the corporate capture of government and our current financial crisis and argues that the larger failure beneath the food, climate and economic crises is a political one. He is currently working on a documentary about the global food system with award-winning director Steve James.
    Full bio

    Please RSVP now                                            Buffet sponsored by 

     

     

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     Cooking Master class VIDEO by the Wellness Center: Learn how to cook delicious and easy to make recipes and taste some samples right on the spot
    Recipes: Set 1  -  Set 2

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    2016 Event:

    MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 - Free Admission

    - 11 AM - 2 PM FAIR FOOD FAIR  in the UC Lower Lounge (map)      
          Come enjoy a free local dish, a Moringa drink, learn about healthy eating, local farming, community gardens, and get involved with the UM Real Food network!
    - 1 PM - “Tropical Fruit Crush” Panoramic Picture - in front of the U Statue - Participate in a national social media effort to raise awareness about eating better diets and expanding access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Come eat a FREE local fruit!

    STUDENT SPONSORS: Green Committee / ECO Agency, CommUnity Garden,

    6 PM to 8 PM - KEYNOTE SPEAKER in the Shoma Hall, room 3053 - Communication International Building (map

    “Healthy bodies, healthy minds: inspiring wellness for the next generation”

     

    NANCY EASTON, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Wellness in the Schools (WITS), will discuss the childhood obesity epidemic and how her organization is leading the healthy food and fitness movement for kids in public schools across the nation.
    More than a decade ago, Nancy founded WITS in a New York City classroom. Under her leadership, WITS now reaches 50,000 students in 100 schools nationwide. In the 2016/2017 school year, WITS started bringing wellness to kids in four South Florida schools.
    Before founding WITS, Nancy spent 15 years as a teacher, mentor, and school leader at the New York City Department of Education. She is a regular commentator and speaker on school food and child wellness and has been recognized for her leadership from First Lady Michelle Obama, chef-food activist Jamie Oliver,  Ann Cooper, the “Renegade Lunch Lady,” and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
    Bio - Wellness in the Schools
      
    The Keynote Speaker event is sponsored by UM Department of Public Health Sciences 

     

    Panel Leading to Food Day- Oct 18 at 7.30 pm:
    “World Food Day 2016: Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too”

    Climate change is affecting the health of our planet and changing our world. It is causing more natural disasters and environmental problems, which make it harder for us to grow food. Growing food is part of the problem too, as we have been taking shortcuts and harming our planet, with the aim of producing what we need. In order to feed a growing population set to reach 9.6 billion by the year 2050, we will have to learn to grow what we need in a sustainable way - a way that doesn’t continue to destroy our planet.
    Panelists: Dr. Linda Parker; Dr. Andrew Porter; Dr. Thomas Harris

     

     

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