SIC DePaul

An Edible Event for the Earth

by Jessica Walsh, member of the Environmental Concerns Committee

Yummy Kale Salad

   The big question during last Wednesday’s Edible Earth banquet was, “How often do you really know what’s on your plate?”  To answer that question, DePaul students began to fill the Vincent & Louise House (V&L House) with organic, locally produced and home-cooked platters around 6 o’clock. 

   Jonathan Eiseman, the Student Government Association’s Senator for Sustainability kicked the dinner off around 6:20 pm with a brief welcome and introduction.  

After that came a brief keynote address by Elise Hawley, the Assistant Director of the Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC), in which she spoke of challenging students to become more aware of the food we eat, think about where it is grown, and see how far food has to travel to get to our plates.

Buckwheat Pancakes 

   Before the chow down began, Robby Hawkinson from the V&L House led the group of about 60 students in a short Buddhist prayer on the importance of nurturing one’s body with food that comes straight from the earth’s soil.  With food on each of the three floors in the house, participants were able to move throughout space, engaging in great conversations and meeting new faces.

Crunchy Pita Bread

   The first floor consisted of the breads and entrées such as buckwheat pancakes and a scrumptious wild rice entrée.  The second floor was packed with wholesome appetizers, vegetable soups and fresh salads, and the third floor was filled with delicious desserts.  After the night was over I left the V&L House with a full and happy stomach and with an awareness of the meal and the ingredients I had just consumed.

      Overall, the V&L House was packed with organic, healthy meals, important discussion, and real cool people.  Wednesday night was another successful partnership between the ECC, the Urban Farming Organization (UFO), and the V&L House, creating a sustainable dinner for the community of DePaul students.  If you were not able to attend Edible Earth last Wednesday, we are already planning another one to take place at the end of the Earth Week celebrations on Earth Day, Sunday the 22^nd of April.  Keep your eyes peeled for more information coming soon!