1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Delta Delta Delta hosts Women of the Bluegrass: Women in Environmental Jobs event for Transy community

Ann Stone, Elmwood Stock Farm, Georgetown, Ky.
Ann Stone, Elmwood Stock Farm

LEXINGTON, Ky.—“By supporting local farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow, and that future generations will have access to nourishing food.”

This was the message delivered by Ann Stone of Elmwood Stock Farm in Scott County, Ky., to the Transy community during Delta Delta Delta’s semi-annual Women of the Bluegrass event in April. In keeping with Transylvania’s commitment to creating a sustainable campus, the event focused on women with careers relating to the environment and sustainability.

Stone spoke about her family’s diversified operation: the certified organic farm provides quality foods to local restaurants and the Lexington Farmer’s Market, and offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which allows members to participate in their own food supply by committing to share in the harvest of the farm. CSA members purchase shares in early spring and then enjoy the bounty of the harvesting season with a weekly basket of fresh vegetables.

Stone, an advocate of the slow food movement, also spoke of the nutritional differences between organic and non-organic foods and the importance of supporting local agriculture.

Jennifer E. Drust, an environmental lawyer with Stites and Harbison, PLLC, and Karen Thompson, a geologist with Smith Management Group, also spoke at the event. The three women answered questions from the audience, addressing topics such as climate change legislation, “clean” coal and the cost of organic produce.