VCU: Black, Gold and GREEN
Virginia Commonwealth University has been recognized for its progress in campus sustainability and its green community. Students, staff and Richmond residents have all contributed to a healthier and more stable environment for everyone in the area. As of this year, VCU has been ranked as the 21st school out of 96 participating schools in the Sierra Cool School Survey for transportation, water, waste management, and other aspects that improve the well-being of both the individual student and the entire community.
VCU has hosted several events that involved students in preparing a healthier and greener future for both the campus and Richmond area. Melissa Brush, an officer of Green Unity for VCU’s leadership team has helped plan and design several events from gardening workshops to farmers markets. “Our goals are more short term compared to VCU’s Office of Sustainability which focuses more on long term goals,” said Brush, “Our goal is to provide the community with the knowledge and capabilities of sustaining their environment with more immediate effects, such as gardening.” Brush talked about Green Unity’s most recent activity known as “The Union Hill Garden Project,” where VCU students participate in building gardens in low- income neighborhoods in order to encourage healthy eating among the residents. “We plant ‘urban orchards’ that include anything from fig trees to blueberry plants,” said Brush, “it offers healthier options to lower-income families for the cost of little to nothing and students love contributing to these kinds of projects.”
Brush also mentioned another active member in the green community, VCU alumni, Rachel Elves, who is well known for her homegrown farm stand where she sells produce and other plants at affordable prices.
Rachel’s Farmstand link: http://www.facebook.com/RachelsFarmstand
Humberto Moran, VCU alumni and employee of Ellwood Thompson in Carytown, said, “Organic food is great, but personally, I feel the prices are too high being that Kroger now has many of the same items we carry at a more reasonable price. I get an employee discount and still many of the products at kroger cost less. So if I was a college student and wanted to go organic, I’d go to Kroger or at least research where they obtain their products,” said Moran, “Farmers markets are also great, but they are limited to their local soil which can affect the quality of the food.”
Byrd House Market is one of many farmers markets in the area.
Younger students have complained about the high prices of Ellwood Thompson and Kroger’s organic selection, “I mostly eat at the commons. I don’t usually have money for grocery shopping, especially anything organic,” said Hana Jabessa, a sophomore at VCU. Another student said that she mainly brings food from her home in Northern Virginia, “My parents buy food at the Farmers Market in NOVA, but I usually don’t have time to do all that here,” she said.
Fresh cherry tomatoes growing in the Byrd House Garden.
Other VCU groups have also participated in green initiatives. Abigail Banks VCU Junior and her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) have contributed through Paint the Town Green. “It is an event where everyone meets and cleans up the neighborhoods,” said Banks. The event is sponsored by the VCU Business School and Greek community “Many students come out, not just from the business school and Greek community,” she said.
Alternative transportation is also a huge part of VCU culture. Fixie bicycles along with other forms of transportation such as long boards have become popular among students. VCU alumni, David Roberts, locally renowned for his VCU theme song “VCU Swag,” has said that riding a bicycle was just more convenient in an urban area and helps the environment. “At VCU, riding a bike was a lot easier, quicker, cheaper, and more manageable,” said Roberts, “ I didn't have to waste money on gas, parking wasn't an issue, I had two different majors, so I was constantly going back and forth between buildings and riding a bicycle definitely beat walking and driving. On top of that, it’s good for Mother Earth,” he said.
Bicycles are a common form of transportation among VCU students
VCU students still remain a vocal in Richmond’s Green community and continue to expand their knowledge to everyone living in the area. Events are still taking place where people can buy locally grown produce, recycle their electronics, and learn how to garden themselves. If you want to learn more about GOING GREEN, visit Green Unity For Richmond’s website at http://www.greenunityforvcu.com/
http://www.greenunityforvcu.com/
http://www.vcugoesgreen.vcu.edu/
http://www.facebook.com/RachelsFarmstand
