ALMOST every time I attend my environmental science class, my professor, Robert Swap, implores us to get involved with the environment in some capacity or another. Swap's biggest fear is that we will sit idly while others take action for us, or worse that no one will take any action as the global environment worsens.
His encouragement struck a chord and made me want to branch out and explore the Charlottesville area for any kind of environmental initiatives currently underway. It did not take long for me to stumble upon on an interesting and exciting movement making its presence known right here in Charlottesville and at the University. The local food movement is a wonderful grassroots initiative that has taken hold here with the help of dedicated students, faculty and staff who have a passion for food, community and global sustainability.
Tanya Denckla Cobb, associate director of the University's Institute for Environmental Negotiation and a teacher of food systems planning in the urban and environmental planning department, is just one of the many people dedicated to environmental sustainability and building a revitalized sense of community. In her recent article for the University's Cooper Center, "Virginia - An Emerging Leader in the Nation's Local Food Movement," Cobb discusses the ins and outs of Virginia's local food movement. She makes the important point that "local food and agriculture can provide a community with a combined sense of place and unique identity
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