Fresh Madison Market and FH King – Students For Sustainable Agriculture Join Forces.
Fresh Madison Market to donate discarded food waste, including produce, to help in sustainable gardening efforts
Madison, WI – Fresh Madison Market and FH King –Students For Sustainable Agriculture are partnering in an effort to promote sustainable gardening efforts. Fresh Madison Market is donating compostable food waste, including produce, to FH King-Student For Sustainable Agriculture, an organization that practices organic farming and promotes sustainable agriculture.
FH King – Student For Sustainable Agriculture is a student gardening organization formed through the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Located on the Lakeshore Nature Preserve on Lake Mendota Drive, students grow fruits, vegetables and flowers in a one-acre garden through sustainable and organic gardening methods. Seventy five percent of the produce grown is given back free to UW students at a kiosk on the Library Mall throughout the growing season.
They decided to partner with Fresh Madison Market as a way to reuse some of the food waste from the grocery store to help build the garden’s soil. Fresh Madison Market was an eager participant! “One of the goals I have for the store is to give back to our community. I couldn’t think of a better way to do that than by helping a student organization whose goal it is to learn to grow food organically and sustainably.” Fresh Madison Market owner Jeff Maurer said. “This is a great way to keep a majority of our waste out of landfills and reuse food to help feed others.”
A FH King Garden volunteer on a bicycle towing a heavy-duty trailer that can accommodate up to 400 pounds picks the food waste up twice a week. “We’re trying to build the healthiest soil we can because it is the most important aspect of sustainable agriculture. We are planning to pick up twice a week and are looking for ways to increase the number of pickups once we determine our capabilities and need.” FH King Student Farm program director Mark Sandberg stated.
The student organization was started in 1979. It was named after UW of Agriculture professor Franklin Hiriam King. He helped pioneer the study of organic techniques for conserving soil. There are over 120 students involved in the farm today.
For more information on Fresh Madison Market, please contact Jeff Maurer directly or visit the store’s website, www.freshmadisonmarket.com. You can also follow Fresh Madison Market on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information on FH King Student Farms, please visit their website, www.fhkingstudentfarm.com or contact Mark Sandberg, Program Director, at 612-799-1379.
