Posted by Casey Williams on November 14th, 2008

UVA has taken both big and small steps towards sustainability over the last year: 

• Dining halls have eliminated trays in order to save significant amounts of water and limit food waste. 
• A composting program has been put into effect.
• Recycling programs have been expanded. 
• Green building is now required, in that every new building on Grounds, including the entire South Lawn Project, will be LEED certified and have to meet certain environmental standards.  

Last week the local newspaper reported on another great effort that is quickly gaining momentum – a UVA community garden: http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/education/article/uva_mini_garden_uniting_students_faculty/31074/.  Building on an “urban mini-farm” established at UVA’s Hereford College in 2007, a group of students have undertaken a project to grow their own campus garden, thereby educating both the student body and the larger community about the many benefits of producing local food.   In much the same vein,

Bundoran Farm seeks to establish its own hands-on educational program for nearby schools, ideally starting with nearby Red Hill Elementary.  With over 2,000 acres of preserved farmland and forests, opportunities abound for local children to explore and experience first-hand the rewards of growing food and producing other vital goods in our own “backyard.”

Filed under: Agriculture, Bundoran Farm Events and Occasions, Education and Inspiration, General, Nature/Environment