The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts recently
broke ground on a new Agricultural Learning Center, an important component
of the new Farm to Table curriculum module available to students there.
Escoffier Foundation President Michel Escoffier join Austin Mayor Lee
Leffingwell and State Representative Eddie Rodriguez at the
ceremonies.
Enthusiastic students joined Escoffier staff members and
educators in welcoming the visiting dignitaries as well as representatives of
local businesses who will support the Agricultural Learning Center project with
partnership donations. After a light breakfast prepared by students, the crowd
gathered behind the school facility where Mayor Leffingwell issued a
proclamation about the groundbreaking and Representative Rodriguez, founder of
the Farm-To-Table caucus in the Texas House of Representatives, spoke
about the importance of establishing vital farm to table connections.
While there are only a couple of small raised beds and two
lonely fruit trees on the site at the moment, long-term plans call for removal
of the grass that now covers most of the 6,000 square foot garden area and
students are soon to be busy developing good soil with organic compost from the
school's laboratory kitchens. Culinary students will learn to plant, cultivate,
and harvest fresh produce to be used in the kitchen while also receiving
classroom instruction about the importance of respect for local resources based
on ethical and sustainable practices. Escoffier school students will also be
encouraged to spend time working side-by-side with area farmers, ranchers, and
other food artisans as part of the school's externship program. In addition,
children from the surrounding community will be invited to tour the center to
help establish a connection to the sources of healthy foods.
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