What began as a way to engage Marymount University biology
students in a fun community project has grown into a thriving organization that
works to alleviate local food insecurity and promote sustainable living
through urban agriculture.
Food for Thought was founded by Brenna Cook (Class of 2018) and
Susan Agolini, Clare Boothe Luce assistant professor of biology and physical
sciences at Marymount. The student-run club started with
members volunteering weekly at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s garden, a mile
from campus.
“We have had a great time working with
the folks at St. Andrew’s and have learned a tremendous amount from these
experienced gardeners,” said Agolini, who called the dynamic between the two
age groups “amazing.”
Gardening
was new for most students.
“Probably what I have loved the most
about this project is the students’ level of enthusiasm,” Agolini said. “We
have also had students from across many disciplines sign up to help. Some come
just to fulfill a civic engagement and then tell me they want to come back.”
The club has drawn faculty and student volunteers from
disciplines as diverse as nursing, politics and fashion
design. Marymount alumni have participated and helped spread word beyond
campus. To date, 118 volunteers have served the project.
Also,
they have worked with Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture by planting
and distributing basil seedlings to commuters at local metro stations. In
addition, Cook and Agolini presented a poster on Food For Thought at the
Virginia Urban Agriculture Summit in October.
Over the winter, the
nonprofit Rooftop Roots helped the club construct and plant three raised
beds in a grassy area of campus that fronts North Glebe Road. Produce raised
there goes to the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Food for Thought also
started a chapter of the Food Recovery Network that provides prepared but
unused food from Marymount’s Gerard Dining Hall to the Arlington Street Peoples
Assistance Network (A-SPAN).
Elizabeth Swanson, a
senior biology major from Manassas Park, was drawn to the group by her love for
plants and interest in urban agriculture and environmental sustainability.
“The best thing about Food for Thought
is how personal it is, in every sense of the word,” said Swanson, the club’s
new president and first summer intern. “Not only does our club attempt to
assist in the ever-increasing problem of food insecurity by personally growing
the produce that we donate and being there for every step of the process, we
have also formed a lot of personal connections in the greater
Arlington community.”
During her internship, she’ll continue to care for the raised-bed
gardens and help out at the St. Andrew’s garden as often as possible. She’s
also hoping to recruit more student volunteers.
“We’re always looking to connect with
volunteers outside of our campus as well, so anyone interested in our mission
or learning about gardening is more than welcome to contact us,” she said.