What better way to spend spring break than conducting on-the-ground research to build food systems that support the health and wellbeing of people and planet? That’s exactly what Conscious Kitchen did with our Organic Farm to School Mapping Project and a passionate cohort of six local college and university students this spring. This cohort came …
When you want to make change, it can be hard to know where to begin. In the complex world of increasing organic and local procurement for school meals, being able to draw upon inspiration and guidance from leaders, peers, and experts is critical. With this in mind, Conscious Kitchen organized the Central Coast Organic School …
What does our school food program look like in action? The Conscious Kitchen team set up at John Herbert Davis Park in San Pablo with our partner, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), to showcase what is possible with fresh, local, organic school-supported agriculture programs like ours. The WCCUSD Food Truck pulled up to …
Organic School Meals Work: USDA Visits WCCUSD Summer Meal Site Read More »
Rows of organic lettuce and potatoes stretched as far as the eye could see at Pinnacle Farms, our classroom for the day. Our Conscious Kitchen team was busy learning about experimental mulching techniques, water conservation, how hedgerows support native pollinators, and increasing organic soil matter through regenerative farming practices when a van pulled up to …
As Conscious Kitchen continues to honor, highlight and interview farmers, we chatted with Javier Zamora and learned about his incredible journey to owning a successful organic farm. In 2012, Javier started JSM Organics with little more than an acre and a half of land and a mobile home. Now, 10 years later, he drives through the 200 acres of …
Meet Earl Herrick of Earl’s Organic Produce We spoke to Earl Herrick, owner of Earl’s Organic Produce, about his experience in the organic industry for over 30 years. He’s had quite the journey from selling produce out of the back of his truck near Golden Gate Park, to becoming the leading regional distributor of organic produce …
How Produce Pals were born A few years ago on a Sunday afternoon our Executive Director, Judi Shils, returned from her local farmer’s market with produce to make a bountiful seasonal salad. As she was chopping veggies, she was struck. Her slice of cucumber looked like a face! Judi decided to make a little person …
Sandwiches are popular for good reason! Delicious ingredients from bread and cheese to meat and vegetables add variety. Sandwiches are certainly one of our students’ favorite Conscious Kitchen school lunches — easy to hold in hands of any size and packed with color, flavor and texture. The question is: are they good for our bodies and …
Conventional or Organic: Which Sandwich Would You Choose? Read More »
Food is such an important part of each of our lives: it not only gives us energy and sustains us, but also holds larger cultural and social meaning. This summer, Conscious Kitchen collaborated with West Contra Costa Unified School District to pilot a Conscious Kitchen Ambassador Program curriculum, which sought to encapsulate the many different …
Ambassador Pilot Program Teaches Students About Food Read More »
Gardens are beautiful in every sense of the word. A home for flora and fauna, birds, insects and animals. A natural respite to ground yourself. An area for hands-on exploration. A slice of earth to support healthy soils and ecosystem cycles. A living learning space to experiment. A place to plant, grow and harvest anything, …
