Since 2008, Slow Food-UW has encouraged students to trek down South Park Street to meet local farmers, interact with community members, and visit the restaurants and businesses along the way. This campus-community partnership promotes a “two-way street” of learning between UW-Madison and South Madison.
This branch began at the South Madison Farmers’ Market when we asked market manager Robert Pierce, “What can Slow Food-UW do to help you?” Robert immediately asked us to engage with youth and teach them how to cook. From there, we sought to aid preexisting organizations and community-led efforts in promoting “good, clean, and fair” food through cooking, gardening, and other food-based programming. We have expanded our reach over the years and now work with the Boys and Girls Club, Odyssey Program, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, and Goodman Library.
Our South Madison programs aim to empower individuals and communities to reclaim their relationship with food. We emphasize that food is a right for all, and work to address barriers to food that includes and surpasses access. Some of these barriers may involve knowledge of healthy foods, cooking skills, or comfort with novel foods. Each of our programs actively work to promote a local food system that is both inclusive and just.
If you’re interested in learning more about the urban agricultural initiatives in the diverse communities just south of campus, join our efforts and shoot us an email at slowfooduw [at] gmail [dot] com.
Teen Cooking Night
SFUW interns go to the Taft Boys and Girls Club each week to collaborate with teens in creating a tasty meal or snack. We aim to show teens that they can have a tasty meal or snack using healthy alternatives to foods they already like. We strive to introduce them to new foods and teach simple cooking skills through meals that can be replicated at home.
Badger Rock Cooking Night
Badger Rock Cooking Night is a hands on lesson of cooking, growing plants, and all things food with Badger Rock Garden coordinator Sarah Karlson. Badger Rock students, their families, and other community garden members cook a meal together using ingredients from Badger Rock’s school and community garden.
Badger Rock Garden Class
Students enrolled in the Badger Rock garden class experience an opportunity to learn the science behind gardening and agriculture, and food preparation by getting their hands dirty in the soil and in the kitchen. In the garden class, the classrooms are a 2 acre urban farm, which includes a greenhouse, hoop houses, honeybees and chickens, and a commercial kitchen where we prepare food every day using ingredients from the gardens and local farms.
Snacks on the Move
Snacks on the move is a fitness class geared towards elders as a part of an Alzheimer’s prevention program. Each week interns exercise along side participants and connect with members through a healthy snack and conversation. Snacks on the Move meets at the Park Villager Mall and Badger Rock Middle School.
Snacks with Scientists
SFUW interns take part in the in the Afterschool Expeditions program which occurs weekly at the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery for elementary and middle school students. We work to introduce the kids to new, fun, homemade snacks while engaging them with scientific activities related to food.
Market Baskets
SFUW interns source and distribute $10 baskets of produce biweekly at the Crossing in and effort to make local foods more accessible. Interns explore different farmer’s markets and aim to get the most “bang for their buck” to provide an abundance of produce for students. We offer some baskets for free through the Pay It Forward program for students who may not otherwise afford it. If you would like to purchase a market basket, follow the link here.
South Madison Program Co-Directors
Connor Raboine | Libby Schnepf
Odyssey Adventurers & Explorers
Hannah Cochlin | Olivia Sauls | Caroline Klessig | Clare McGuire
Snacks with Scientists
Nolan Arostegui | Hope Beyer | Elizabeth Huetner | Joelle Osterwind
Teen Cooking Night
Riley Achtemeier | Allie Palmer
Market Baskets
Garden Club
Hannah Sorensen | Eric Western
