Photo of hand putting bottle in recycling bin

Campus Spotlight: Student Sustainability Council

From bonfires to hayrides and tall grass mazes to s’mores, the Student Sustainability Council’s Farm Harvest Festival gives the Case Western Reserve University community the chance to engage in many fall favorites. This year’s theme is grapes.

While the student-run group packs the day full of traditional fall events, the festival also aims to educate the community about sustainability on campus and off. Attendees can learn about this year’s theme of grapes, as well as find out about the Farm Food Program, make beeswax lipbalm, participate in fresh-food cooking demonstrations and more.

Though the Farm Harvest Festival is one of the Student Sustainability Council’s most recognizable events, it also is involved in several other initiatives and programs throughout the year.

The council’s projects tackle issues related to recycling, water conservation, “green” building policies, food waste reduction and more. Working with members of the campus community, the group works to make the university more sustainable through new policies, procedures and practices.

The council’s ongoing initiatives include:

  • Working with administration to encourage more renewable, sustainable energy usage across campus;
  • Reducing the use of single-use items on campus such as plastic bags, straws and disposable water bottles; and
  • Offering a program—dubbed SEED—to help make other student organizations more sustainable.

Those who would like to join the organization’s efforts can attend general body meetings Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Tinkham Veale University Center gaming room.

Learn more about what the Student Sustainability Council does at this year’s Farm Harvest Festival Saturday, Sept. 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. at University Farm (37125 Fairmount Blvd., Hunting Valley). A shuttle will run between Thwing Center and the farm during the festival.