Around CAUSES

Here's what's been happening around CAUSES:
-Join us at the Anacostia River Festival
- Soil management workshop help at Muirkirk Farm
- UDC green roof in the news
- Muirkirk Farm featured on Elevation DC
-Watch "Where Lives are Changed" short video
-Ward 7 cooking class underway
-March Gerontology In-Service

Join us at the Anacostia River Festival!

The Anacostia River Festival will be held April 12, 2015, from Noon to 4:00 p.m in Anacostia Park. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the Anacostia River, its ecology, history and people who live and work alongside it. UDC is excited to be a partner in this event to bring together residents from both sides of the river and across the city to experience the river, the arts and engage with each other.  Please come out and join us for a day of fun on the river! The University will be showcasing the following activities for children and adults:

·         Aquaponics Display

·         How much water does it take to produce that? Guessing Game

·         Can you make it rain?  – led by the Brightwood Education Campus 4-H Club
Contact Arielle Gerstein for more information.

Soil management workshop held at Muirkirk Farm

The Center for Urban Agriculture held a free half-day soil management workshop at Muirkirk Farm on Sat., March 14. The workshop was geared toward gardeners and farmers in the DC region seeking to maximize their soil health for the long-term growth of nutrient dense crops. Jon Frank, International Ag Labs, served as instructor. Mr. Frank pioneered the High Brix Garden method for increasing crop nutritional content through soil management and is active in promoting the concept of nutrient dense foods and their impact on human health. For more information, contact Dr. Lorraine Clarke.

UDC green roof in the news

The CAUSES green roof has been featured in Riverside Research's MarketMaker newsletter! Construction is nearly complete, and we can't wait to grow produce right here on campus! Prior to that, Mr. David Bardin wrote about his firsthand look in the Forest Hills Connection. For questions regarding the green roof, contact William Hare.

UDC Farm featured on Elevation DC!

Elevation DC visited our Beltsville, Maryland, research farm to speak with urban ag director Che Axum: "When feeding large numbers of people from limited spaces — the essence of urban farming and of feeding the city’s hungry — nutrient density matters. Much of the food grown on the 143-acre farm goes to nonprofits like Bread for the City, which helps run an orchard here, and DC Central Kitchen; nonprofits received nearly 1,000 pounds of produce from the farm in 2013.
But, as of this year, more of the produce will be sold at UDC’s campus cafeteria as well as its farmers market — and it will be used to educate a growing number of urban farmers and gardeners along the way." Read the full article!  

Watch: Where Lives are Changed

Watch the new CAUSES: Where Lives are Changed promo, created by the great Ed Jones of UDC TV!

Ward 7 cooking class underway

Center for Nutrition, Diet and Health Chef Tyrome Henson is in the midst of another Ward 7 healthy cooking class in partnership with Washington Parks & People. Read about our last program! Contact Chef T for more information.
(click to enlarge the flyer)

Ethnic crop specialist Yao Afantcho, participates in African food program

Mr. Yao Afantchao, Ethnic Crops Specialist, recently participated in the program Voice and Valor: Martin Luther King Builder and Patron Dinner and Appreciation of Black History Month. The event took place at the Nyumburu Cultural Center, University of Maryland, College Park on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015. Celebrating the rich tapestry of America's diversity, one of the goals of the program was to promote multicultural education and partnership. Food was an integral to this appreciation, including its demand and marketability. The event included an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. For more information on the Ethnic Crops program, contact Yao Afantchao.

March Gerontology In-Service

At this month’s Institute of Gerontology In-Service, Senior Volunteers received practical information from Evelyn Minor, MA RD LD, Family Matters of Greater Washington, Lead Agency Ward 8 and Program Director for East River Family Strengthening Collaborative. Ms. Minor discussed the importance of saving money and ensuring that term life insurance policies have not lapsed or expired: "Be sure you know when your term insurance policies end. That’s your responsibility to keep up with.” She also explained the importance of having a will, “even if you don’t think you have anything to leave.”  Ms. Minor also dropped this mind blowing fact: By 2030, 71% of older Americans will be over the age of 60. 
After the guest speaker, it was time activity time for the seniors, which consisted of a nutrition question wheel in a quiz-style game hosted by Paul Brown of the Center of Nutrition, Diet and Health (who gave Bob Barker a run for his money with his hosting skills). Seniors who answered questions correctly received a $5 or $10 grocery store gift card. For more information on the Institute of Gerontology, contact Claudia John.