Trying exotic fruits has become a popular trend recently, and Elizabethtown College’s very own SEEDS Ecology club joined in. On Thursday, Sept. 26, the club held a tasting event in the Bowers Demonstration kitchen. Students were invited to attend from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. to taste two different paw paw featured recipes: a smoothie and angel food cake with a paw paw paste on top.
Paw Paw trees are native to Pennsylvania. In fact, students at Etown can find them locally on campus, behind Schlosser Residence Hall. The trees provide fruit to people and wildlife, and their leaves provide nourishment to caterpillars of the native zebra swallowtail butterfly.
Based on the articles provided by Dr. Bridge, research shows that paw paw trees and other native trees are critical to the survival of other native species to Pennsylvania, such as native butterflies and birds. Many other insects have adapted to the specific leaves of native trees. Birds need soft, protein rich caterpillars to feed their babies. Birds such as Etown’s very own mascot, the blue jay, couldn’t raise their babies without native trees and plants.
Junior environmental science major Angie Marie, explained, “Ecology Club SEEDS is for diverse people in diverse science, which is their goal and message, about this club. The organization is held and funded by ESA, Ecological Society of America.”
Marie detailed that the organization hosts national field trips to help people gain experience and field work.
“I’m actually a part of one,” Marie said. She will be heading to Canada to do ecological research in the Canadian Rockiees.
Reed continued by saying the club hosts ecological events on campus.
“If you like the outdoors, then this is the club for you,” Reed said.
SEEDS Ecology Club’s mission statement is as follows:
“The purpose of SEEDS Ecology Club is to unite diverse members of Elizabethtown College to learn about ecology, engage in local environmentally focused projects and educate members of the Elizabethtown College community. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual learning and support for members while offering many ways to get involved in both camps and community-oriented projects. For students, SEEDS offers volunteering opportunities to improve the environment, connect with professions in the field of environmental science, and instill a life-long passion for nature. For the community, SEEDS aims to raise awareness of important local environmental issues and strives to enrich the campus grounds with sustainable native biodiversity.”
The SEEDS Ecology Club in the past has partnered with the local community to provide education about biodiversity with Earth2Etown. The club does tree planting and check ups around campus. There are a few events coming up in the near future, such as a BioBlitz to characterize plants and animals on Earth Day, senior class native tree planting and ESA field trip applications. One of the club’s advisors, Dr. Bridge, was at the event. She had a game going in which students were invited to guess if a plant or animal was native to Pennsylvania or not.
“If you guess at least 4 correctly, you could possibly get a sticker,” Dr. Bridge said.
Stickers were hand designed by students of the Ecology club.
Now you may be wondering, what does a paw paw fruit actually taste like? Sophomore Political Science major Aileigh Mulligan gave a review of the smoothie.
“It kind of tastes just like frothy milk,” she said.
The paw paw fruit does not have an extremely strong taste; it is on the sweeter side but overall, it has a very neutral taste. If you don’t like super sweet fruits then perhaps you would enjoy a paw paw fruit.
“I love the opportunities that the ecology is setting up with students of the community,” Mulligan said. “I think it is so awesome to involve students and allow them to be more aware of their local surroundings and the natural environment.”
Etown students should be on the lookout for upcoming events from the SEEDS Ecology Club on their Instagram page @elizabethtownseeds.
