Last Friday, October 24th, Saint Louis University hosted its annual Gardens To Tables event as a part of the national Food Day movement. Rachel Deffenbaugh, Manager of City Seeds Urban Farm, was announced St. Louis’ “Local Food Hero” of 2014. The Green Dining Alliance attended as a resource for guests alongside several other sustainability-focused nonprofits and government organizations.
Egg-laying chickens look on as guests enjoyed food and drinks
A rainbow of chard varieties lights up in the sun
Under a blue sky and warm October sun, the second annual Gardens to Tables event saw dozens of attendees gather for lunch and education in SLU’s urban garden at Compton Avenue and Rutger Street. SLU’s dietetics interns prepared an 80% locally-sourced, 100% vegetarian menu for guests – ranging from sushi innovations topped with pickles, to collard greens and stewed beans garnished with graham cracker crumble. Donated beer from Six Row and Ferguson Brewing Co. kept diners refreshed, and organizations such as GDA and others lined the garden rows to speak with attendees about sustainability between bites.
Local Food Hero Rachel Deffenbaugh
Local Food Hero Rachel Deffenbaugh kicked off the luncheon, speaking about her work with the homeless at Gateway Greening’s City Seeds Urban Farm project. City Seeds successfully facilitates recovery as well as ‘green collar’ job training. “You have to meet people where they are,” she attested, “and grow from there.” From Deffenbaugh, guests learned how a sustainable food culture also requires us to end hunger and homelessness through education, counseling, and training of soft and hard skills.
City Seeds Urban Farm is a venture by Gateway Greening that trains individuals from St. Patrick’s Center, donates food to Operation Food Search, Food Outreach, and sources produce and honey to GDA-certified McMurphy’s Cafe at St. Patrick’s Center’s downtown location. Addressing social, environmental, and economic viability, it is truly a model for urban sustainability.
The GDA also attended SLU’s First Gardens to Tables Food Day event in 2013, and met with and consulted for 2013’s Local Food Hero, Jacki Dirksmeyer of Feed My Peeps (501c3). We encourage anyone to attend next year. It’s $5 well-spent for great food and conversation in an urban garden setting.
