The Center for Prairie Studies (CPS) is presenting a new series of talks this semester which will focus on the link between agriculture and the city and avenues to strengthen and expand this connection.
This series of lectures, entitled "Spreading Sustainable Agriculture," is intended to explore the ways in which sustainable agriculture practices may be carried out in the city.
"We have held lectures in the past about agriculture, the Farm Bill, local foods and Community Sustainable Agriculture," said CPS Director Jon Andelson, Anthropology.
"But we want to show how all of these ideas can also apply in the city."
The first talk in the series featured Teva Dawson of the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department. Dawson spoke Tuesday about Digging Deeper, which is, according to its website, "a collaborative project between public and private institutions to increase food security in Des Moines, IA through strengthening and expanding its local/regional food system."
Erin Sindewald '09, who spent last summer working with the local farmers market, Community Supported Agriculture farmers and sustainable agriculture projects as the Grinnell Area Local Foods Alliance/CPS intern, said it is important for individuals to take advantage of their unique surroundings.
"We spend so much time trying to compensate and show that Grinnell as a college and a locale is great except that it's 'in the middle of nowhere,'" said Sindewald.
"CPS works to stress that it's great here because of our beautiful landscape and our surroundings, not in spite of them."
The CPS sponsors numerous lectures series to bring together students and the community to open a dialogue of appreciation, recognition and awareness of "place" while pursuing its stated mission to "promote understanding of and connection to our place and its people."
Other CPS efforts include collaborations with campus organizations like Free the Planet, student projects such as EcoHouse and the campus garden.
The Center is also sponsoring a short course this semester taught by Prof. Lonnie Gamble of Maharishi University in Fairfield, IA entitled "Renewable Energy: The Energy Basis for Humans and Nature," which was oversubscribed.
"We focus our attention not only on the science of the prairie, but on location, its nature and culture, and their interaction," said Andelson.
The next lecture in the series will be February 28 featuring Tim Wilson, director of City Farm Chicago on "Creating Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Chicago."
