Food & Agriculture
FOOD FOR HEALTHY PEOPLE & PLANET
Climate-Conscious Food Choices
Climate-Conscious Food Choices
The food choices we make impact not only our health but also our community and the planet. While fossil fuels get most of the attention when it comes to the main causes of climate change, food and agriculture are a significant contributor. Driven by food waste, deforestation, and high demand for beef, the Agriculture industry is responsible for over 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
By opting for plant-based and locally sourced foods, we can reduce emissions, support local farmers, and boost the economy. Every meal is a chance to make climate-conscious food choices.
Go Green Granville supports a vibrant, climate-resilient local "foodshed" that offers a diverse array of locally- grown, sustainably- produced and low-carbon foods.
Granville Farmers Market | Photo by Annie Piombino
LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD FOR GRANVILLE SCHOOLS & DENISON
From Farm to Campus
From Farm to Campus
Granville Schools
Granville Schools' partnership with AVI Fresh emphasizes sustainable and healthy food sourcing, with over 25% of ingredients from local farms within 75 miles, including produce from school gardens. Meals are prepared fresh daily using organic ingredients whenever feasible and food is served on reusable serving ware, which significantly reduces lunch waste.
Denison University
Denison University’s food service provider, Harvest Table, supports sustainable food options and local farmers, sourcing over 25% of ingredients locally. Dining halls offer low-carbon meal options, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices, while minimizing waste through composting, trayless dining, and recycling cooking oil for biofuel.
LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD
Granville Farmers Market
Granville Farmers Market
The Granville Farmers Market, hosted by the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, has been connecting the community with local farmers, bakers, and food producers for more than 30 years. The market offers locally-grown and sustainably-produced vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy products, baked goods, and more. Indoor winter markets offer additional access to fresh, sustainable foods year-round.
The Saturday Summer Market runs from May to October, from 8:30 AM to 12 noon at Raccoon Valley Park. For a midweek option, the Tuesday Summer Market operates from June to September from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Ross IGA Granville Market Parking Lot on South Main Street. The Winter Market takes place most Saturdays from November through April at the United Church of Granville Annex Building at 119 W. Broadway, from 9:30 AM to noon.
GO GREEN GRANVILLE ACTION STEPS
Adopt a Low-Carbon Diet
Adopt a Low-Carbon Diet
Dark Earth Farm | Photo by Susan King
LOCAL REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
The Small Farms of South Granville
The Small Farms of South Granville
A group of Granville-area regenerative farms and modern homesteads is cultivating a community rooted in collaboration. This informal network of small-scale, sustainable growers includes Dark Earth Farm, Flat Root Farm, Everyday Acres, Mossycup Farm, and The Yard at Cherry Valley. Individually they grow vegetables and native grains and raise free range chicken and heritage goats. Collectively, they are committed to farming, gardening, and homesteading in ways that restore the land and promote environmental health. By pooling their knowledge and sharing tools, equipment and a passion for the planet, these farms illustrate that even the smallest farms can have an outsized impact on the environment and local food systems.
Choosing plant-based meals is a simple yet impactful step toward combating climate change.
Granville High School Garden | Photo by Susan King
FOOD IN THE ANTHROPOCENE
Local Foodscape
Local Foodscape
The EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health brought together 37 world-leading scientists from across the globe to answer this question: Can we feed a future population of 10 billion people a healthy diet within planetary boundaries? The result was published in The Lancet, a leading medical journal. The report established the first global diet for healthy people on a sustainable planet. With more than 600 policy citations, the EAT-Lancet report is now undisputedly one of the most influential scientific reports in the world.
CLIMATE-FRIENDLY FOOD
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) connects consumers directly with local farmers through a subscription program where members receive seasonal, locally-grown produce each week. By reducing the distance food travels, CSAs lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and packaging and encourage sustainable farming practices. Participating in a CSA fosters a stronger local food system, reduces food waste and contributes to a more sustainable and climate-friendly food supply chain. Local farms offering CSA subscriptions in Granville area include Bird's Haven Farms, Sunbeam Family Farm and Wilson's Family Farm
COOL FOODS
Climate Conscious Consumption
Climate Conscious Consumption
Americans eat more meat than nearly any other country in the world and consume beef at four times the global average. These diets strain the planet, as food production contributes to the climate crisis through deforestation for grazing and feed crops, methane emissions from cattle, and the energy used for farming and shipping food around the globe.
A shift to plant-based meals can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with our diet. Replacing half of animal-based foods in U.S. diets could lower emissions by 35%, equivalent to taking 47.5 million cars off the road annually, according to a study from the University of Michigan and Tulane University. Reducing beef consumption by 90% could cut emissions by over 50%, helping the U.S. meet key climate targets.
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT
Digester reduces food waste in Granville schools
Digester reduces food waste in Granville schools
As part of a "Take Action" Project for Mr. Jim Reding's Environmental Science class at Granville High School, students Casey Laughbaum and Alli Messner planned, fundraised and implemented the installation of an aerobic digester to process food waste generated at the high school. The Aerobic digester quickly turns food waste into a nutrient-rich biomass, similar to compost. This technology helps to reduce greenhouse gases by keeping food waste out of landfills. It also helps to lower fuel and transportation costs associated with waste management.
FOOD & AGRICULTURE
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions are available in Granville?
Granville residents can support local, sustainable agriculture through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs from Bird's Haven and Sunbeam Family Farm.
Bird’s Haven Farm just five miles from Granville, has been practicing sustainable farming for nearly three decades. They prioritize transparency, using natural methods like manure-based fertilizers to grow high-quality produce. Their extended growing season, supported by innovative high tunnels, ensures fresh vegetables are available well beyond the summer months.
Sunbeam Family Farm, based in Alexandria, follows organic farming practices to produce vibrant, nutrient-rich vegetables. By focusing on soil health through minimal tillage, organic fertilizers, and crop rotations, they deliver produce that is as flavorful as it is sustainable.
Participating in these CSA programs not only provides Granville residents with fresh, locally grown food but also supports sustainable farming practices, reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance produce, and fosters a stronger connection between the community and its farmers.
Why is beef often highlighted as a climate concern?
Beef production generates high emissions due to methane from cattle, land cleared for grazing, and the energy required to grow feed crops.
What dietary changes can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Shifting to plant-based meals, reducing meat and dairy consumption, and choosing locally sourced foods can lower greenhouse gas emissions tied to food production.
What is the climate impact of adopting a plant-based diet?
Plant-based diets significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to diets heavy in animal products. For example, producing vegetables and grains requires less land, water, and energy than raising livestock, making it a more sustainable choice for the planet.
Eliminating meat from your diet reduces food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 35% according to research published in Energy Policy
Who is the point of contact for the Small Farms of South Granville group?
Jenna Nolt of Dark Earth Farm is the point of contact for the Small Farms of South Granville. You can reach her at darkearthfarm.granville@gmail.com or via Facebook.
Granville High School Garden | Photo by Susan King