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 …
We are always proud of our work with Conscious Kitchen! What a joy to share our organic school food program in person with top leaders across our country for National School Breakfast Week. USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Congressman John Garamendi, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond joined Conscious …
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture & CA First Partner Pay Conscious Kitchen a Visit Read More »
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 …
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 …
Coffee is an essential part of many people’s daily routines, but it doesn’t always have the most positive environmental impact. 9.5 billion kg of coffee is produced each year, and that number is increasing. Growing and harvesting conventional coffee consumes large amounts of energy, water, and land, causing a loss of biodiversity. Transporting beans produces carbon …
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, …
Given the vastness of the Bay Area’s food scene, it can be difficult to pinpoint a singular reigning influence. The melting pot of cuisines and their corresponding origins makes for an alluring array of dining options. However, representation of one cuisine was severely lacking until just a couple of years ago: the original, pre-colonial, Indigenous …
Food is Power: The Revitalization of Original California Cuisine by Two Ohlone Activists Read More »
Last Tuesday morning in West Oakland, I had the privilege of listening to and learning from Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project’s Farm Manager, Aaron De La Cerda. Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) is a Bay Area non-profit organization, dedicated to increasing access to fresh food in Oakland’s inner city through …
“Stopping climate change is hard enough, but racism only makes it harder.” — Ayan Eliza in the Washington Post. “Black Americans are disproportionately more likely than whites to be concerned about — and affected by — the climate crisis. But the many manifestations of structural racism, mass incarceration and state violence mean environmental issues are only …
One of our amazing volunteers made these cookies with organic ingredients she had at home to deliver alongside the hot, nourishing meals we serve to the Marin City community daily. We can all do more, we are, we must. How are we working to do more? We work to make food for the people. And …
