Food Forest Civic Engagement Project Summer '13

Foundations of Civic Engagement Summer '13 from Michelle King on Vimeo.


An overview of the issue and community partner

The FGCU Food Forest is a Student Government funded organization providing FGCU students with the ability to earn their mandatory community service hours while gaining access to locally grown organic produce.

A 2010 study published by The Journal of Psychological Science found that the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables has risen 200% since 1983, while the cost of junk foods has risen a mere 63%. Is it any wonder that college students , a busy, low income population, turn to poor food choices when they're so readily available and affordable? The cost of food plays a large part in college student’s food decisions, as demonstrated by a survey published by Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. It states that “Cleanliness, friendliness, and price were the three most important factors influencing college students’ choice of fast food restaurants”.
 

Our Accomplishments

 Our proposal stated we would build a physical structure for future use by the Food Forest for future outreach and educate incoming students during Eagleview Orientation days about the Food Forest. We expected modest results, however we exceeded expectations in our outreach. 

• Designed and constructed a long lasting farm stand
• Designed and printed education pamphlet about the Food Forest, with digital file for future use
• Educated 75 people about the Food Forest, 12 of which have never heard of the Food Forest  

 

Individual contributions From Each Group Member and Our Community Partner 

Lindsey Carboneau: Team leader, help in design of cart, proposal writing communicated with orientation staff, sent out weekly emails to group, arranged for stand storage and educated at farm stand.

Jennifer Neumann: PR, Picked up supplies from Lowes as well as arranged donations, help in design of stand, educated at farm stand

Brittany Ratliff : Group Liaison, communicated with community partner, helped in design of cart, writing proposal, designed pamphlet, educated at farm stand.

Elizabeth Aguilera: Artistic director, design and primary construction of stand, writing of proposal, educated at farm stand.

Michelle King: PR, help in design of stand, writing proposal, baked cupcakes using food forest ingredients, educated at farm stand, creation of electronic archive (video). 

Community Partner Jessi Drummond: Met with our group and provided tour of Food Forest, education about Food Forest foods, and harvest to use for the farm stand education day and cupcakes.