Welcome

Just wanted to be able to update more people on my everyday- from good restaurants to what I'm doing to events in the city to where I'm going, etc.
Work: I am currently finishing up my second to last week working for the Environmental Policy Institute(UEPI) : Center for Food and Justice in Eagle Rock. I have been working all summer on developing a new program that introduces local, quality foods and nutrition education to one of the fastest growing populations at risk for obesity: Preschoolers. UEPI runs the National Farm to School Network which links elementary, middle, and high schools with fresh local food and food education. Here is their website: www.farmtoschool.org. Working for CFJ has been really rewarding for me since I have never before worked somewhere where I have actually seen the fruit of my labor (and I am getting paid to do something I am actually interested in).
Besides the 9-5, I have been actively working and helping to manage the new Occidental garden with my new friend Elissa. Elissa actually started everything and is the real inspiration behind F.E.A.S.T. (the name of the club that runs the garden) but, I have been lucky enough to just tag along and help out. When I started working at the garden we were mostly only turning and creating new compost to fill our future raised beds but, in the last two months, we have built, filled, and planted 6 beautiful raised beds. The garden looks awesome! Cucumber, corn, purple bush beans, squash, squash, and more squash, basil, and a whole bed full of pumpkins. We are currently in the process of building and filling nine more beds with the wonderfully endless and brilliant support and help of Bruce Steele.
From the friendship Elissa and I made over our love of the garden also came the realization the we both loved to cook. Elissa co-ran a student run restaurant last semester called Cafe Norris, which had an AMAZING menu and presented a really great resource for students to have a great, locally sourced meal made by two dedicated students. (I am really sad the I happened to be abroad last semester and missed all the preparations for Cafe Norris and the garden). Once we discovered our mutual love for cooking, farming, and eating we decided to re-create Cafe Norris between the two of us. Low key, fun, family style, delicious food for students, friends, faculty, and staff to enjoy. So far we've come up with a name, Well Fed, but are still looking for a decent location.
In other news (sorry for the length of this post), life is good. I'll be starting my senior year, which means senior comps (100-page thesis), applying to grad school/looking for a job, taking the GRE. Luckily, two of my professors have been very supportive of me and my research AND I have the most supportive family and friends.
LOVE