Sustainable Archives - Conscious Kitchen

Celebrating a Historic Leap for Better Breakfasts: CEREAL-ously ORGANIC

By Caralee Ellis / Community, Equity and Justice, WCCUSD

After 2+ years of collaboration, innovation, and dedication to shifting the paradigm around school food, Conscious Kitchen, Nature’s Path, and West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) made history through a collaborative effort to radically transform a breakfast staple at schools across the nation. On May 2nd, we hosted CEREAL-ously ORGANIC at Michelle Obama Elementary …

Celebrating a Historic Leap for Better Breakfasts: CEREAL-ously ORGANIC Read More »

Jun 18 2024June 18, 2024

Virtual Farm Tour: Frog Hollow Farm

By Daniel Kogan / Community, Profiles

Turning Green’s summer interns have had the exceptional pleasure of learning about sustainability and environmental justice from a new guest speaker every week, and now we’ve been given a virtual farm tour! This tour was led by our most recent guest speaker, the legendary Farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood, California. With …

Virtual Farm Tour: Frog Hollow Farm Read More »

Jul 27 2023July 27, 2023

Garlic Scapes: Getting More Out of the Garlic Plant

By Daniel Kogan / Recipes

All across the nation, garlic scapes are popping up in droves at farmer’s markets. Upon seeing these clusters of spiraling verdant bulbs, one might ask: “What on earth are these and how do I even eat them?” While perhaps visually strange and unfamiliar, garlic scapes are an excellent way to get more use out of …

Garlic Scapes: Getting More Out of the Garlic Plant Read More »

Jun 26 2023June 26, 2023

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture & CA First Partner Pay Conscious Kitchen a Visit

By Caralee Ellis / Community, Equity and Justice, WCCUSD

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 »

Mar 15 2023June 22, 2023

Make Your Coffee More Sustainable

By Julie Larick / Equity and Justice

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 …

Make Your Coffee More Sustainable Read More »

Jul 19 2022August 16, 2022

Play with your Food

By Caralee Ellis / Community

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 …

Play with your Food Read More »

Apr 5 2022October 5, 2022

Farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm

By Conscious Kitchen / Community, Profiles

Upon our arrival at Frog Hollow Farm, we were met by Farmer Al Courchesne. He greeted us with a wide smile, donned in his iconic blue denim overalls. Upon adorning masks, the four of us loaded into his car for a driving tour of the property. Frog Hollow Farm is Contra Costa County’s organic Garden …

Farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm Read More »

Nov 1 2020November 12, 2023