The city of Norman’s Division of Environmental Resilience and Sustainability will host a cooking workshop in partnership with Fertile Ground Sunday to mark Stormwater Awareness Week.
Stormwater Awareness Week is an initiative that highlights how runoff affects water quality and flooding. Storm Water Awareness week provides free, virtual workshops designed to educate the stormwater community, offering continuing education opportunities and emphasizing a focus on learning.
Attendees will watch a live cooking demonstration, sample two plant-based entrees and learn how native plants contribute to healthy stormwater management.
Chef Lisa Brewer, resource recovery manager at Fertile Ground, will prepare and serve three sisters stew and cornbread with a local honey glaze while explaining how each ingredient connects to the environment.
“They are indigenous (dishes), and because we are cooking with pollinators, these are all things that are seasonal right now,” Brewer said.
The workshop encourages participants to taste, ask questions and explore the intersection of food, sustainability and community.
“If we can eliminate (carbon emissions) from our diet, even just a few times a week, then we are going to be doing something good for the planet,” Brewer said.
Native plants play a critical role in filtering stormwater, preventing pollution and supporting local ecosystems. Their deep roots capture and clean water, reduce maintenance costs, create wildlife habitats and restore the prairie landscapes.
“When we plant native, we’re not just gardening — we’re building community-scale infrastructure that protects public health while cutting maintenance costs and water bills,” said Michele Loudenback, environmental and sustainability manager for the city of Norman.
The division has partnered with Fertile Ground since 2022 for events such as Earth Day and Monarchs in the Park. Since August 2024, the partnership has expanded to provide food scrap collection services at city hall municipal buildings.
The workshop is free but registration is required and space is limited. Registration is available online. The workshop is 1 to 3 p.m. at the The Well on the second floor Oct. 5. Parking is available on James Garner Avenue.
“I hope that it makes them want to start a fall garden ... and start something from seed and then to learn how to cook,” Brewer said.
Cooking with Pollinators blends plant-based cooking, environmental education and community connection in one interactive experience.
“The more participation, the better,” Brewer said. “I think the more excitement and enthusiasm that is kind of infused into the food, the better it’s going to taste anyway.”
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Parker Newman and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
