Drexel Food Lab reposted this
Drexel University recently had the incredible opportunity to partner with Longwood Gardens and Drexel Food Lab for the second year on an innovative Garden-to-Table course. The course brought together students from diverse majors across the university—computer science, economics, nursing, and culinary arts— who all enrolled in Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions Garden-to-Table course. In this unique course, students dive deep into sustainable cooking practices, working with seasonal harvests and learning to fully utilize products through a variety of cooking and preservation methods. One of the most innovative aspects of this program is how it integrates sustainability into the curriculum in a real-world setting. Students work with fresh, seasonal produce from Longwood Gardens, gaining a firsthand understanding of full product utilization, from seed to plate. This exposure to the principles of sustainability, such as minimizing food waste and utilizing diverse preservation methods, equips students with invaluable skills that are increasingly relevant in today’s eco-conscious world. The mutual collaboration between Drexel and Longwood Gardens benefits both the students and Longwood. For the students, this course offers much more than a classroom experience, but a chance to explore cutting-edge culinary techniques, practice sustainable cooking methods, and refine their skills in a professional environment. They also gain exposure to the operational side of a large-scale garden and restaurant, learning to think like chefs and entrepreneurs while being immersed in Longwood's horticultural environment. For Longwood Gardens, the partnership brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to their kitchens and infusion of talent, with dishes that reflect new takes on traditional garden-to-table cuisine, enriching their offerings and elevating the guest experience. This course is more than just a culinary program—it’s an interdisciplinary incubator for sustainability, creativity, and innovation. As this collaboration continues to grow, we’re excited to see how it will evolve and continue to inspire. A huge thank you to Michelle Bach and the entire Longwood Team for their amazing partnership as well as Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D., CHE, CRC and the Drexel University Team for making it all possible. #DrexelUniversity #LongwoodGardens #Sustainability #HandsOnLearning #GardenToTable #Collaboration #Horticulture #FoodLab #DrexelFoodLab #Partnership #DrexelSolutionsInstitute #CulinaryInnovation #RealWorldSkills #StudentSuccess #IdeaGarden