Fwd: Oracle story on SPROUT
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Stephanie Hankerson
Feb 12, 2009, 11:22:35 AM2/12/09
to hamlin...@googlegroups.com, Hamline Midway Environmental Group
Getting some growing press!
http://media.www.hamlineoracle.net/media/storage/paper1367/news/2009/02/10/Local/New-Sustainable.Student.Org.Hopes.To.Bring.The.University.Closer.To.Its.Neighbor-3622382.shtml
SCKH
Steph Hankerson
http://media.www.hamlineoracle.net/media/storage/paper1367/news/2009/02/10/Local/New-Sustainable.Student.Org.Hopes.To.Bring.The.University.Closer.To.Its.Neighbor-3622382.shtml
SCKH
Steph Hankerson
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sara B. Shellenbarger <sshellen...@hamline.edu>
Date: Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Subject: Oracle story on SPROUT
To: sck...@gmail.com
Hi Stephanie,
Below is the article that printed in the Oracle. This issue of the paper came out today, and you can pick up a copy in any building on campus.
Thanks again for your input.
Best wishes,
Sara Shellenbarger
New sustainable student org hopes to bring the university closer to its neighbors
On a brisk and windy February afternoon, a handful of Hamline students gathered in the basement of the student center to talk about garden spaces, seed planting and fundraising. They are members of a newly created group on campus called Students Proposing Real Options for Underutilized Territory (SPROUT).
Although the first meeting was only held in early January, the creator of the organization, senior Margaret Shields, said the idea was born a long time ago.
After spending a year in Latin America, Shields said she became interested in food justice and food access.
"I was frustrated coming back to the U.S. It should be a human right for people to eat right. Consumers have the right to non-contaminated food and to live in a non-contaminated environment, with affordable access to safe and healthy food and living spaces," Shields said.
"[SPROUT] addresses a very present need in our world now," Shields said. "You look around and see 'the green movement' and 'the local foods movement,' but you don't see them doing a lot for sustainability."
SPROUT considers itself a group of community-minded students committed to promoting environmental justice by growing local food and practicing sustainability and stewardship.
"[SPROUT is] going to do planters, around 15-20 on campus, with edible flowers, herbs, more sort of decorative stuff," Shields said. "The planters are symbolic of what we're eventually hoping to have. The goal is to have a permanent piece of land on campus; a student-run garden."
Shields says the group's biggest roadblock at present is Hamline's 20-year plan.
"Basically there isn't going to be any part of land not in construction in the next 5-10 years," she said. "If we make a garden now, it'll get torn up. The planters don't have to get destroyed."
She added that although the university's future design does not include permanent garden space, "so far our plans have been very well-received from many people in the Hamline administration."
SPROUT is also looking into using the biology green house to get seedlings planted earlier than May, when it's safe to plant outdoors in Minnesota.
The organization is also hoping to find community members in the Hamline-Midway area whose yards can be used for organic vegetable gardens. Shields said they want to do this for people who wouldn't be able to garden themselves because they don't have the physical ability, time, money or knowledge.
Stephanie Hankerson, a member of the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG), said her group will "help find gardening places off campus because campus space is so limited right now."
Hankerson said she thinks the connections HMEG has within the neighborhood can help SPROUT form relationships with community members who are also interested in growing local food.
SPROUT is intent on sharing what they sow.
"We want it to be of the community and for the community," Shields said.
SPROUT is considering joining an informal farmer's market in the Midway area and has also thought about "a veggie stand on campus and making meals-—supplying fresh food for org meetings on campus, instead of ordering from Papa John's," Shields said.
More SPROUT plans include helping to host a documentary film series at the Hamline community library with HMEG relating to environmental and local food issues.
"We want to support other efforts in the community, like other gardens," Shields said. "We want to help out and be active here."
Because of this emphasis on community, HMEG is "willing to be very supportive of SPROUT," Hankerson said. "We're here and we want to see sustainability in the neighborhood."
But SPROUT is still in the planning stages and is currently exploring fundraising options to pay for seeds, planters and other gardening supplies.
"We're accepting donations, too," in the form of seeds, equipment and money, Shields said.
She said the organization is also educating themselves via local and regional conferences supporting similar efforts, including the "Midwest Real Food Summit" and local real food potlucks.
Emma Schroeder, sophomore and member of SPROUT, said she likes that she can help build something completely new.
"It's direct action at its best," Schroeder said.
Schroeder joined the group to see the results of community efforts and the lifestyle associated with community-based living.
Other students expressed similar reasons for getting involved.
"There are things that Hamline is missing—-and being involved in the community is one of them. Instead of wanting to build fences, we want to build gardens," sophomore Meghan McInerney said. "I hope it attracts students that don't normally get involved, and that students at Hamline get more familiar with the neighborhood off campus."
David Davies, professor of Anthropology and chair of the East Asian Studies department, is SPROUT's faculty advisor. Davies said he has confidence in the group.
"I've had a number of the students in classes and I know them to be hard-working and thoughtful members of the Hamline community," Davies said. "I'd like to see them take this great concept and see it grow and endure past the period of time the students are at Hamline. I've seen student initiatives lose momentum after they graduate."
"This can become a vital link between the university and the neighborhood and has important social significance for our time," he said.
"It's an educational process for all of us," Shields said. "We want to show people it's possible."
SPROUT's next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Hub. They also have a Facebook group and a Google group online with more information.
From: Sara B. Shellenbarger <sshellen...@hamline.edu>
Date: Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Subject: Oracle story on SPROUT
To: sck...@gmail.com
Hi Stephanie,
Below is the article that printed in the Oracle. This issue of the paper came out today, and you can pick up a copy in any building on campus.
Thanks again for your input.
Best wishes,
Sara Shellenbarger
New sustainable student org hopes to bring the university closer to its neighbors
On a brisk and windy February afternoon, a handful of Hamline students gathered in the basement of the student center to talk about garden spaces, seed planting and fundraising. They are members of a newly created group on campus called Students Proposing Real Options for Underutilized Territory (SPROUT).
Although the first meeting was only held in early January, the creator of the organization, senior Margaret Shields, said the idea was born a long time ago.
After spending a year in Latin America, Shields said she became interested in food justice and food access.
"I was frustrated coming back to the U.S. It should be a human right for people to eat right. Consumers have the right to non-contaminated food and to live in a non-contaminated environment, with affordable access to safe and healthy food and living spaces," Shields said.
"[SPROUT] addresses a very present need in our world now," Shields said. "You look around and see 'the green movement' and 'the local foods movement,' but you don't see them doing a lot for sustainability."
SPROUT considers itself a group of community-minded students committed to promoting environmental justice by growing local food and practicing sustainability and stewardship.
"[SPROUT is] going to do planters, around 15-20 on campus, with edible flowers, herbs, more sort of decorative stuff," Shields said. "The planters are symbolic of what we're eventually hoping to have. The goal is to have a permanent piece of land on campus; a student-run garden."
Shields says the group's biggest roadblock at present is Hamline's 20-year plan.
"Basically there isn't going to be any part of land not in construction in the next 5-10 years," she said. "If we make a garden now, it'll get torn up. The planters don't have to get destroyed."
She added that although the university's future design does not include permanent garden space, "so far our plans have been very well-received from many people in the Hamline administration."
SPROUT is also looking into using the biology green house to get seedlings planted earlier than May, when it's safe to plant outdoors in Minnesota.
The organization is also hoping to find community members in the Hamline-Midway area whose yards can be used for organic vegetable gardens. Shields said they want to do this for people who wouldn't be able to garden themselves because they don't have the physical ability, time, money or knowledge.
Stephanie Hankerson, a member of the Hamline Midway Environmental Group (HMEG), said her group will "help find gardening places off campus because campus space is so limited right now."
Hankerson said she thinks the connections HMEG has within the neighborhood can help SPROUT form relationships with community members who are also interested in growing local food.
SPROUT is intent on sharing what they sow.
"We want it to be of the community and for the community," Shields said.
SPROUT is considering joining an informal farmer's market in the Midway area and has also thought about "a veggie stand on campus and making meals-—supplying fresh food for org meetings on campus, instead of ordering from Papa John's," Shields said.
More SPROUT plans include helping to host a documentary film series at the Hamline community library with HMEG relating to environmental and local food issues.
"We want to support other efforts in the community, like other gardens," Shields said. "We want to help out and be active here."
Because of this emphasis on community, HMEG is "willing to be very supportive of SPROUT," Hankerson said. "We're here and we want to see sustainability in the neighborhood."
But SPROUT is still in the planning stages and is currently exploring fundraising options to pay for seeds, planters and other gardening supplies.
"We're accepting donations, too," in the form of seeds, equipment and money, Shields said.
She said the organization is also educating themselves via local and regional conferences supporting similar efforts, including the "Midwest Real Food Summit" and local real food potlucks.
Emma Schroeder, sophomore and member of SPROUT, said she likes that she can help build something completely new.
"It's direct action at its best," Schroeder said.
Schroeder joined the group to see the results of community efforts and the lifestyle associated with community-based living.
Other students expressed similar reasons for getting involved.
"There are things that Hamline is missing—-and being involved in the community is one of them. Instead of wanting to build fences, we want to build gardens," sophomore Meghan McInerney said. "I hope it attracts students that don't normally get involved, and that students at Hamline get more familiar with the neighborhood off campus."
David Davies, professor of Anthropology and chair of the East Asian Studies department, is SPROUT's faculty advisor. Davies said he has confidence in the group.
"I've had a number of the students in classes and I know them to be hard-working and thoughtful members of the Hamline community," Davies said. "I'd like to see them take this great concept and see it grow and endure past the period of time the students are at Hamline. I've seen student initiatives lose momentum after they graduate."
"This can become a vital link between the university and the neighborhood and has important social significance for our time," he said.
"It's an educational process for all of us," Shields said. "We want to show people it's possible."
SPROUT's next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. in the Hub. They also have a Facebook group and a Google group online with more information.
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