Ramen Event!
Pictured left to right: Linda Lin, senior, political science; Holly Moor, communications, senior; Maya Pellitteri, junior, psychology
Looking for a sense of belonging and new food? Look no further than the Community Garden Coalition! On Thursday, Mar. 31, the Coalition hosted a lovely ramen night in the Interfaith Center. The Garden Coalition provided free ramen to students from 6-8 p.m., and the food was delicious! The club also collected cash donations and canned goods to support the Geneseo food security advocates.
The menu consisted of many delicious foods. Everyone could pick from two bases, miso broth or ramen noodles. Then, students could also add a protein to their bowls, including tofu, pork, or eggs. Finally, everyone could choose from a variety of vegetables such as bamboo shoot, green onions, tomato, baby spinach, corn, seaweed, bok choy, and mushrooms.
While students ate their delicious food, there was a presentation about nutrition in Japan. The Community Garden Coalition provided the components of a typical three-dish meal in Japan, which consists of a main dish, side dish, and soup as well as milk and occasionally fruit. Speakers provided information on how food and lunches are prepared in Japanese schools. They highlighted the evolution of school lunches in Japan, and the great efforts that they go through to teach nutrition and provide Japanese students with meals containing the appropriate food groups. The presentation was a nice look into Japanese culture and was incredibly informational.
The Community Garden Coalition is a great organization with even better goals. The community garden is a partnership with the local Geneseo community, and they seek to develop sustainable solutions to food insecurity. One of their main objectives is to provide education for SUNY Geneseo students that are interested in getting involved in the organization and providing resources for people who need food support.
The organization works with community gardens and small local farms that donate fresh produce. If you are interested in joining The Community Garden Coalition, their meetings are hosted on Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. in the MacVittie Union in room 324. Feel free to check out their Instagram (@geneseocommunitygarden) or send them an email at gardencoalition@geneseo.edu with any questions.
The Ramen event was a great hit! The Community Garden Coalition brought a huge success and created a great welcoming atmosphere accompanied with good food. Everyone at the event was helpful and welcoming and the students all engaged in great conversation with one another. It was an amazing opportunity to socialize with a variety of students and bond over learning new things while enjoying a warm meal, and even provided the coolest stickers designed by sophomore business administration and sustainability studies double major Natsuki Takata.
I’m excited to see what other events the Community Garden Coalition host and encourage students to get involved in the community garden. It is important to incorporate good, healthy foods into your diet if you are able to do so. A healthy balance will leave you feeling energized and ready for the day!