<p>This morning, D received the following from President Doug Bennett. It went to all students living on campus.</p>
<p>*I am pleased to announce that Earlham is poised to take a major step towards sustainability. Spurred to action by Michael Pollans Convocation visit, we are going to change how we eat. Beginning next fall, we will exclusively serve locally-grown fruits and vegetables in the Earlham dining hall. </p>
<p>Where will we obtain these locally-grown fruits and vegetables? From Earlham-owned lands, mostly on the south end of campus. Rather than plant these fields with corn or soybeans as we have for many years, we will be planting them this fall with beets, lima beans, brussels sprouts and limited amounts of cauliflower. Why start with these crops? Rick Flamm, Supervisor of Grounds, believes these crops will have the best chance of success given our weather and soil characteristics. We are lucky we still have those farm fields, Flamm adds. They give us a real opportunity to move faster than other colleges.</p>
<p>Next fall and for several years to come, these beets, lima beans, brussels sprouts and occasionally cauliflower (probably just on Fridays) will be the only fruits and vegetables served in the dining hall. If were going to make this idea of locally-sourced produce work, we have to go all the way, and right a way, said Cheryl Presley, VP and Dean of Student Development. Gus DaSilva, Earlhams Executive Chef, is already planning how many different ways he can prepare beets, broccoli and brussels sprouts. </p>
<p>I know some will be disappointed that there arent any conventional fruits in the mix, but Earlham computer scientist and organic gardener extraordinaire Charlie Peck notes that you can eat brussels sprouts just like grapes: just pop a few in your mouth, he recommends, no cooking necessary, and you dont even have to peel them. </p>
<p>As global warming intensifies, adds Mic Jackson, mathematics professor, well be able to widen the array of fruits and vegetables we can grow. Within three decades, oranges, kumquats and even bananas may be a possibility. </p>
<p>Some student members of the Committee on Campus Life, with whom this local provision proposal has been actively discussed, have been pressing for our growing some raspberries and strawberries as well. They are uncomfortable with the vegetables-first strategy. The best possible site for growing raspberries and strawberries on Earlham-owned land, notes Brent Smith, Earlhams botanist, is probably in Wildman Woods, a hilly, under-utilized plot a few miles to the west of campus. Wed have to do a good deal of tree-clearing in order to plant these fruits, but the college could make a lot of money from the sale of quality hardwood, and it would give us an excellent chance to clear the site of the invasive garlic mustard weve been battling for years. </p>
<p>Can students help with the planting, weeding and harvesting? We hope so, but we have to make sure no federal regulations stand in the way. As part of the curricular visioning process, the Curricular Policy Committee will be considering requiring twenty hours of farm field work each semester as part of the Wellness requirement. </p>
<p>There is no truth whatsoever, however, to the scurrilous rumor that, for the few dozen meat-eaters left on the Earlham campus, that the move towards local provision of food will lead us to serve squirrel stew. On the other hand, the growing abundance of deer in the area make venison meatloaf a real opportunity. *</p>