August 20, 2009 – A sustainable living workshop series highlights this year’s University of Utah Famers Market. This is the second year for the market, which will showcase more vendors and activities. There is no entrance fee and the general public is welcome to drop by and purchase fresh, healthy, local produce and unique arts and crafts from neighbors with whom they live, work and study.
The market will be held on Webster’s Lawn, east of Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre each Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It begins on August 20th and runs until October 8th. The back-to-school grand opening celebration will be held on Thursday, August 28th.
The U of U Farmers Market is a great way to enhance the sense of community among those on campus, as well as invite the broader community to join, while providing a great way for vendors to access a large campus population of roughly 21,000 employees and 28,000 students.
New to this year’s market will be weekly workshops on gardening and healthy living. The weekly schedule of workshops kicks off at the back-to-school grand opening and includes the following:
Week 1 – Aug 20th, 12 noon
Introduction/Welcome to Farmers Market & Wellness Passport
Reagan Fails, MS; UHC Health and Wellness Center
Week 2 – Aug. 27th 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Backyard Chickens
Celia Bell, Urban Homesteader
As anyone who has ever had a farm-fresh egg can tell you, there is a world of difference between the right-from-the-hen variety and the store bought. Sounds good, but where there are eggs, there are chickens; and where there are chickens, there is responsibility. Find out how to do it right from start to finish in this class. We’ll cover preparation; breed selection; housing, food, and water; chickens and your garden; legalities and your neighborhood; hazards and health management; raising chicks; and collecting and storing eggs.
Week 3 – Sept. 3rd, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Solar-powered Ovens
Giles Larson, Urban Farmer
Learn how to build a solar oven using only aluminum foil, cardboard and a glass jar.
Week 4 – Sept. 10th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Bike Fitting
Mindy McCutcheon, MS; UHC Health & Wellness Center
Cycling around town or campus is one of the best ways to stay physically fit and reduce your environmental impact – come learn how to customize your bike for the perfect fit, making your daily ride more comfortable.
Week 5 – Sept. 17th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Container Gardening
Barbara Elieson, MS, RD; UHC Health & Wellness Center
Short on space? Discover how, even on the smallest patio or porch, you can grow a crop of vegetables, herbs or a garden of flowers in containers.
Week 6 – Sept. 24th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Environmentally-friendly Diet
Julia Erbacher, MS, RD; UHC Health & Wellness Center
Eating for personal health and environmental health can be synonymous! Achieve a healthy weight and save the planet by learning how to adopt a “flexitarian” diet, a more plant-based and less animal-based diet. Also, learn how small behavior changes around eating can have a positive impact on the environment.
Week 7 – Oct. 1st ,12:00-1:00 p.m.
Gardening, an Ecological Approach
Fred Montague, PhD; U Department of Biology
Come learn about the global imperative for the backyard garden and the virtues of the 3X6 bed. We’ll discuss how gardening offers practical ways to save money, save your health, save wild places and grizzly bears.
Week 8 – Oct. 8th, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Botanical Medicine: Where do herbs fit in healthcare?
Merry Lycett Harrison, RH (AHG); Clinical Herbalist
Learn how to use herbs for health and healing.