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N.C. State’s Earth Day celebration focuses on sustainable food

Earth Day events are April 13-18
Everyone eats and just about everyone could do it fresher and healthier – while also strengthening local economies.  That’s the benefit of local food and the focus of North Carolina State University’s annual Earth Day celebration April 13-18.

“Local and sustainable food systems are more and more important as we address the impact food has on our bodies and the planet, as well as the challenge of sustaining the food supply for growing populations. Earth Day at N.C. State is the perfect place for open dialogue about a sustainable future,” said Dr. Danesha Seth Carley, who coordinates the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences sustainability program and leads this year’s Earth Day planning committee.

The week-long emphasis on “Barn to Brick: Sustainable Food and Agriculture at N.C. State” includes a variety of free events, including several with strong CALS involvement:

Planting My Roots – April 13, 1-3 p.m. at N.C. State’s Agroecology Education Farm (Lake Wheeler Road Education Unit)
Festivities kick off with N.C. State students, faculty, staff and alumni planting roots for local food. When seedlings are harvested this summer, produce grown on campus will be served in campus dining halls for the first time.

Grow Your Wellness – April 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the Brickyard
This wellness fair will fuel healthy, sustainable lifestyles, complete with Crossfit-style fitness stations that demonstrate how to reduce waste and waistlines.

Norman Borlaug Lecture – Tues., April 16, 3 p.m. at Hunt Library Auditorium
Frances Seymour, former director of the Center for International Forestry Research, will speak on “Forests for Thought: The dynamic politics of tropical forests, food security and climate change.” This annual lecture is sponsored by CALS and the College of Natural Resources.

Earth Day Celebration – April 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the Brickyard
This outdoor eco-friendly festival is one of the spring’s largest campus events.

Movie: Fresh – April 17, 7 p.m. at Witherspoon Cinema
Free screening of this landmark food documentary, plus a panel discussion with sustainable food experts. Event planned by CALS advanced agroecology students.

Farm Feast – April 18, 4:30-8 p.m. outside Fountain Dining Hall
University Dining is moving dinner outside for this picnic featuring local food, a free concert with bluegrass band Mandolin Orange and presentation of N.C. State’s Green Brick Awards.

Founded in 1887 with agricultural roots, N.C. State is the largest land-grant institution in North Carolina, where agriculture is the state’s most profitable industry, generating $70 billion each year to the state’s economy.

Coordinated by the University Sustainability Office and numerous campuswide partners, Earth Day is an annual week-long emphasis to educate the campus community on environmentally responsible and sustainable principles and practices. For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/earthday or contact Carla Davis at 919.513.0177 or at cwdavis3@ncsu.edu.