Why let 30,000 children in Rhode Island go to bed each night uncertain of where their next meal will come from? Why fill our local landfills with rotting food scraps? Build soil health, stop hunger and grow a stronger community.
After the Harvest is the next step in the evolution of the Brown Dining Community Harvest program. After the Harvest aims to address where our leftovers, food scraps and waste go to, much as Community Harvest focuses on where our food comes from. Brown Dining has been busy looking at ways to reduce hunger in our community, to reduce the amount of food that we waste and to reduce the environmental impact of our waste. In a nutshell, After the Harvest is about making the most of the energy -- physical and TLC -- that we put into our meals.
After the Harvest was launched to coincide with Hunger and Homelessness Week in November 2005. The program grew out of the passions of Brown Dining Chef Elizabeth Mersereau and Aaron Glieberman, a student. After the Harvest has since caught the attention of other campus groups: the Sustainable Food Initiative (SuFI), the Brown Environmental Action Network (BEAN), Oxfam, SHHAC, the Swearer Center for Public Service and the Center for Environmental Studies. Backed by a wealth of creative and dedicated minds, here's what you can expect from After the Harvest:
Timed to coincide with Brown's Hunger and Homelessness Week 2005, here's what we have planned:
- Monday 11/14
Brown Dining Annual Food Drive Kicks Off
- Boxes by the entrance to Brown Dining eateries, the Brown Bookstore, the Post Office in Faunce, Graphic Services and Conference Services Offices. Call 863-3168 for more information. Monetary donations (checks) may be sent via campus mail to: R.I. Community Food Bank, c/o Brown Bookstore, Box 1878, Providence, RI 02912
- Non-perishable food items are welcome. The drive ends December 20
- Monday 11/14
Morning Soup Kitchen Tours
- Tours at Brown Dining's partner soup kitchens, Mary House and Oasis House, leave at 9am and at Noon. Contact Aaron to attend. Please arrive at the Thayer Street side of the Ratty five minutes before
- Tuesday 11/15
Weigh Your Waste in the Ratty -- Composting Kick-Off
- There will be barrels to hold compostable food scraps and students on hand to describe what can go into the compost. We're examining the scale of food scraps and the logistics of encouraging people to take the time to separate their scraps.
- Thursday 11/17
Second Soup Kitchen Tour
- Tour from 2 to 5pm. Contact Aaron to attend. Please arrive at the Thayer Street side of the Ratty five minutes before
- Thursday 11/17
Donate Your Meal Credit to Oxfam
- During dinner hours, swipe your card at the quiet doors of the Ratty and the V-Dub instead of entering. Brown Dining will make a donation from your dinner meal credit to Oxfam.
- Friday 11/18
Announcements from Results of Tuesday's Weigh Your Waste
- Evaluation of Wastes, Explanation of Composting Effort, Collection and Donation of Food Drive goods
Our After the Harvest Program strives to increase hunger awareness and to reduce food wastes at Brown Dining. We hope you'll join us as we expand the scope of our work to affect change and expand the scope of our community.
