Arboretum hosts harvest activities

The University of Central Florida Arboretum is hosting activities with a focus on fresh, sustainably grown food that will culminate with a Harvest Feast on Friday, Nov. 30. 

Participants are invited to select a type of produce from the Arboretum’s community garden and prepare a dish using the ingredient for the potluck feast, which will begin at noon.

Vegetables and herbs such as bok choy, spinach, kale, mint and oregano will be available. Participants can collect their ingredients between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Arboretum office, Trailer 525, behind the Harris Corporation Engineering Center and College of Optics and Photonics buildings. To participate in the Harvest Feast, RSVP to arboretum@ucf.edu.

To help participants with inspiration for their harvest dishes, Meghan Van Camp, UCF’s registered dietitian and nutritionist, will lead a cooking demonstration at noon Wednesday, Nov. 28. Produce from the garden will be used to showcase ideas for the feast.

When participants pick up their produce Thursday, they can also catch screenings of the documentary “Ingredients,” about chefs and farmers who are committed to the local food movement. Screenings will begin at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

To learn more about the UCF Arboretum, visit http://www.arboretum.ucf.edu/.