Picnic to fill stomachs and minds

By Max Roux | gargoyle@flagler.edu

NEW UPDATE: Due to complications with reserving the West Lawn, the picnic will be Wednesday, March 3.
NEW UPDATE: The Greenpeace picnic is Friday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
UPDATE: The Greenpeace picnic is being postponed until Tuesday, Feb. 23, due to predicted widespread showers and thunderstorms.

If you pass by the West Lawn on Monday, Feb. 22, the aroma of grilled vegetable kabobs may catch your attention.

It may lure you toward the scent of a variety of natural recipes and organic dishes. You will find yourself at the Organic Delight Picnic.

Organized through Flagler Greenpeace and the Student Government Association’s Green Committee, the environmental awareness event will start at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 3:00 p.m. on the West Lawn.

“We will be handing out Greenpeace pamphlets to inform the students who come what we are about and hopefully interest them in joining in our efforts,” said Dave Hiller, Flagler Greenpeace Co-President.

The multi-purpose culinary event will consist of a vegetarian-style “green” cuisine including organic fresh fruit, “Victoria’s vegan chili,” and grilled vegetable kabobs. It is also a chance for students to bring their favorite dishes.

“We are also having a cook-off opportunity for students to bring in his or her organic recipe with a chance to win a $25 gift certificate,” Hiller said. “And an organic corn-hole game will be set up.”

Aside from the variety of veggie-style dishes, there will be tables set up to inform students about a variety of topics. These topics include the importance of locally grown organic food, feeding the hungry, and a student program for an innovative composting method.

“I want to bring awareness, not only to the students, but the whole community about the importance of creating an initiative to start up locally produced organic vegetable gardens,” Chuck Riffenburg, SGA Green Committee first chair said. “To feed the people in need of food, while promoting healthy, locally grown produce.”

Another table at the picnic will be for vermicomposting, a program that was created by Lauren Belcher, managing editor for the Gargoyle. She is also pursuing a minor in Environmental Science and is continuing an experiment that started last semester.

“Vermicomposting was originally a science project for class, but I am trying to keep the initiative going,” Belcher said. “My purpose at the picnic is to inform the students and let them know what’s going on with this project.”

While providing environmental awareness, the main focus of the event is to distribute Greenpeace information.

Even though the picnic is meant to be a food and fun fueled time for students, there are also informative booths with the purpose of spreading local environmental and economic awareness.