Post from Ashlyn Spilis
Who doesn’t love food? Food is a subject very near and dear to my heart (as it is for a lot of people) so I was honored to help the Office of Sustainability host an event featuring the farmers of the Charleston area. Held on George Street, we were lucky enough to have the beautiful springtime weather the city of Charleston is famous for. The event featured Ambrose, Pinckney (Our Local Foods), Lowland, Joseph Fields and Rosebank farms, as well as the amazing nonprofits Lowcountry Local First and Grow Food Carolina. One of the most recognizable farmers in Charleston–who also graces the LLF shirts–Sidi of Rosebank farm was also able to take time to make an appearance at the event!
The main goal of this fair was simply just to educate about food sourcing in Charleston by introducing students to the people who grow their food. Strengthening this relationship between the consumer and the provider is an important first step to increasing the economic sustainability of the city. As a first time CSA member, I personally was so excited to meet the people responsible for my weekly share. An overwhelming majority of the people I spoke with had never even heard about the community sponsored agriculture program and what these memberships can provide to the consumer, presenting the need for such events to be held in the future. Jennifer Moore, who attended the fair with her husband (a computer science major), stated the fair “really exposed students to the advantages of buying local produce. Each farm had information about their commitment, share sizes, and products available. Overall the fair was very informative and helped support buying local.”
This event was a success for the College of Charleston. First, we were able to provide information to people about the importance of sourcing food and supporting local growers. Additionally, the farmers also spoke to how successful the event was for them, being able to meet members of the community and the College. Finally, we received so much positive feedback about continuing to host Farm Fairs in the future! I am so glad the Office of Sustainability was able to host such an important event as a part of the College of Charleston’s very first Sustainability Week.