While we are in the midst of LOCAL FOOD MONTH, it is exciting to hear and see that people are filling out the food survey that the food group has produced. However, just as important is deciding what to do with the information that we aquire. As of now, the food group wants an article to be published in the OXY Weekly about the food survey and its findings. In addition, we would like the findings to be understood by the student body. Therefore, sending it out through the OXY digest is also desirable. While this is good work, I want to make sure that campus dinning services and employees can use the information to benefit all dinning experiences on campus. Does anyone have good ideas about how to relay information to the staff in a way that the information can be used to improve the dinning experience? The survey is open to take all of October. Information will be collected at the end of the month and decisions regarding what to do with the information have to be made. All in all, I am excited to read about what people think about dinning services here at Oxy.

If you haven't filled out the survey, here is the link!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=jP_2bQmeS6_2b8N0jeZqI0WQ1g_3d_3d

On other note, I found this great example of another school garden that has undertaken a composting programs and implemented a student-run coffee/snack shop for free-trade, organic and healthier food options. Interestingly, the Dickinson College Farm (located in PA) provides information about the actual reduced amount of food waste. For example, it states that, "It is estimated that the Student Garden composts approximately 800 pounds of food waste each week!"http://www.dickinson.edu/storg/sisa/campus.html I think it would be a great idea for Oxy to do this too. It allows people to understand the actual benefits that composting provides. In regards to the coffee/snack shop ("Underground"), are gree-trade options going to be available? If yes, this should be advertised before the opening of Oxy's Green Bean Cafe.

Kylie Dennis