Events will be capped with an “Earth Month Celebration at the SEED” on Friday, April 27, from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., at FAMU’s campus garden and outdoor sustainability classroom located at 447 West Osceola St., adjacent to the Tookes Recreation Center and the FAMU Marching “100” practice field.
SEED, which stands for Sustainability Education and Engagement Destination, is an outdoor living and learning space where students, faculty, staff, and community members participate in growing food plants, pollinators, and fruits; composting and building soil, and engaging in various workshops to learn about sustainable living.
The FAMU community is invited weekly to utilize the space, join in on regular gardening times, host educational opportunities, and enjoy the space for refreshment and leisure. The SEED, formerly known as the FAMU Eco-Classroom, is a product of FAMU’s winnings from the 2016 Home Depot Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant competition, during which the University was awarded $30,000 to develop a space that promotes sustainability.
The April 27 celebration will feature a dedication and ribbon cutting by FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., as well as garden tours, performances, and information about sustainable living opportunities. The program will also include a “Water Dance” and spoken word performance. FAMU’s student-operated Green Coalition will offer garden tours and tastings, and other campus organizations will be on hand to share information about recycling, nutrition, and bicycling on campus.
The “Water Dance” performance will include various members of the community who attend a training and workshop scheduled on April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Dance Studio located inside FAMU’s Al Lawson Multipurpose Center & Teaching Gymnasium. The “Water Dance” workshop will be inspired by the National Water Dance, which encourages the community to unite over a mutual appreciation for our water resources and sustainability. Participants will develop movement expressions that illustrate their knowledge of and appreciation for water and sustainability.
In addition to the events sponsored by the Sustainability Institute, the FAMU School of the Environment and School of Architecture, Engineering and Technology are sponsoring a “Sustainable U” poster contest for students, on display at the School of Architecture Gallery.