A special colleague spotlight this week as we recognize Grace Leaf for her outstanding work at WSU and wish her well on her new phase in her career journey. We want to express gratitude and appreciation for all your hard work here at WSU. You have provided students and staff with so much loving support, organization and leadership. We truly recognize what an incredible gift you have been to our work environment. We are so excited for you and this new phase of your career, but know that you will be greatly missed by all.

What is your department/location on campus? NEP, SHER 306

How long have you worked for WSU? Since October 2014

Can you tell us a bit about your degree/background? BA Comm, WSU; Master’s in Org Leadership Gonzaga; All but dissertation in the Doctoral Program in Leadership, Gonzaga

Where are you from? Chewelah

What do you enjoy/like best about your job? My awesome students! They are the reason I get out of bed every day.

What are some of your hobbies and interests? Hiking, reading, writing; Curator for TEDxSpokane

What is one of your own wellness tips/healthy habits that you love to follow? Dance! It’s good for your body and your soul. I used to teach dance aerobics until I broke 4 ribs last year, and being injured taught me the value of activity and how it feels to live with a chronic condition to adapt and make your way back to health.

We are approaching the spring harvest, which means that for most locally participating farms it is the last call to sign up for the seasons Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSA is a way for consumers to buy local and seasonal produce from a farmer in their community.

When you become a CSA member to a certain farm you are purchasing a “share” of produce from the farm. Most are set up as weekly or bi-weekly pick ups running from June-October. Most farms offer different size quantities of produce in each box depending on the number of people you are hoping to feed. Prices and payment plans vary by farm, but information is often detailed out on their websites. Some farms even offer additional goods like eggs, meat and breads!

After signing up as a member of a CSA program, farmers/volunteers will drop off the share of produce to a convenient location in your neighborhood for you to pick up.

So what are the benefits of joining a CSA, you ask? Joining a CSA allows you to access produce that is high quality, fresh, locally grown and can often cut down on your weekly grocery bill. You have the opportunity to gain knowledge of produce seasons, what grows in your area and learn how to cook with new ingredients.

Check out these CSA’s that are local to Spokane for more information about signing up!

• Rocky Ridge Ranch
• Urban Eden Farm
• LINC Foods
• Tolstoy Farms