By Cait Kemp
@caitlinkemp09
FoodRescue.net estimates that up to 40% of all food ends in landfills. FoodRescue.net reports that energy, water, and land are all necessary for the growth and culmination of food production. All of this goes to waste, along with the food itself. It is a never ending cycle that seems impossible for anyone to break. This is due to large-scale industrialized agricultural required to provide food to the nearly 8 billion people in the world.
Although it might seem redundant to take on an initiative when one’s efforts are so small in comparison to the huge issue, it is vital to do your part to source ethically and sustainably food.
Every human being leaves an ecological footprint. This is dependent on the choices made in daily life. Are local food sources used? Is it fresh and unpackaged? Are houses powered by efficient appliances? How much air pollution is caused by daily driving a car? You may think your ecological footprint is small, but it’s not. Take on the challenge. Use an online ecological footprint calculator to find out how conscious you are about your choices.
It is possible to do little things in your community to improve the environment.
You can start to be more conscious of how much food is consumed at Cheney Dining Hall and to reduce the amount of food that is left over at the end of each meal. You can carpool, put less effort into the air and not run the shower for too long.
Cheney has recently introduced a reusable to go container system that allows students to pick up food to take back to dorms. Reusable plastic containers are used by students. They can be returned after use, washed and given back to another student.
It is easy to use and the containers can be reused, which reduces waste, stated junior Rachel Perry, a social influencer for Harvest Table.
Cheney makes it very simple for students and College staff to create a sustainable, environmentally-friendly dining experience.
Your diet is an important factor to consider. Common misconception is that plant-based diets don’t provide the same nutritional value as a meat-based diet. Many plant-based alternatives can provide the same nutrition as meat, but they also have many other benefits.
Additionally, plant-based products are often easier to source than meat products. To function, the meat industry requires a lot of energy. Farms must not only grow food for humans but also feed livestock with energy and provide water.
This is why industrial agriculture is so harmful to the environment.
These significant impacts are being made by Springfield College and the community.
Our goal is for a community gardening to be established. I have been working with Charlene Elvers (Director of Center for Service and Leadership), and another person from the area, said Justin Compton, Professor in Environmental Biology. We have been working together to create a community garden. Were trying to figure out physically where it’s going to go. We are trying to figure out what the purpose of it, both in terms of its use for educational purposes and community engagement, actually growing vegetables that the community can access.
Compton stressed the importance to know where food comes a long. Local farm stands and Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSA) can provide more information about the production of food, as well as supporting small farms and gardens.
Because we are often disconnected from our food, I think of the concept of food and understanding its origins. Compton stated that we don’t know where it comes from or how it is prepared.
Although it may seem difficult to imagine changing many of the daily aspects of our lives to be more eco-conscious, it is possible. It just takes time. Time is a major factor that keeps people from facing many challenges. But it shouldn’t stop people from making small changes to improve the world they live in.
The most important takeaway is to reduce waste. All the waste we create as humans is a major factor in the destruction of the environment, climate, and world we live within. Even though one person cannot make a difference in the world, even a small contribution can go a long way.
Photo courtesy of Springfield College
