CSB and SJU celebrate Food Week

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University will be celebrating Food Week Oct. 20 - 24.  The week of events, which culminates in National Food Day Friday, Oct. 24, will include presentations by featured speakers, food booths featuring local, sustainable food options and a food drive.

"The overall purpose of Food Week at CSB/SJU is to create a conversation between our campus and community members in regards to food justice, our current food system, and sustainable agriculture," said Ashley LaLiberte, from CSB Community Kitchen and the coordinator of Food Week.

Created in 2011 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, National Food Day is a nationwide celebration which addresses issues including health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare and farm worker justice.

Kate Ritger and Clare Hintz will present "Women and Agriculture" at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21, in room 204B, Gorecki Center, CSB.

Ritger serves as the production manager at the Common Ground Garden in St. Joseph, Minnesota. She will offer a short presentation titled "From Seeds to Harvest" about the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict and their role as farmers and supporters of sustainable agriculture.

Hintz owns and operates Elsewhere Farm in Herbster, Wisconsin, and is completing a doctorate in sustainable education at Prescott University. She will present on her dissertation "Women Farmers, Transformational Learning and Regenerative Agriculture" and discuss how this relates to sustainable economies. Hintz uses art informed research and will have an exhibit of her farmers' stories on display during a reception prior to her presentation.

Joy Schelble will present "Food Justice and Access" at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, Alcuin Library, AV-1, SJU.

Schelble believes in the power of healthy food, but knows first-hand not all people have access to it. Schelble worked in the Federal Food Stamp Nutrition program for 14 years, served with the food justice non-profit Growing Power and is currently the Iron County Nutrition Coordinator of the Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program. She will present on the battle of healthy food access for Americans living below the poverty line.

On National Food Day Friday, Oct. 24, there will be a sustainable foods tour through St. Joseph. Those wanting to go on the tour should meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Gorecki Fireside Lounge.

In addition to the presentations, there will be several booths and displays relating to the issue throughout the week at the Gorecki Fireside Lounge, CSB. Local, sustainable food booths with free samples of healthy food will be on display from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 20. A food drive and food justice campaign is from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Food Week is sponsored by Common Ground Garden, CSB Campus Ministry, CSB Community Kitchen, CSB/SJU Nutrition Club, CSB Office of Sustainability, Experiential Learning & Community Engagement, FullCircle Greenhouse, Minnesota Street Market Co-Op, St. Joseph Farmer's Market, and the Sister Nancy Hynes Institute for Women's Leadership.

All events are free and open to the public.