You will learn about simple, low-cost actions you can take in your daily life, such as: eat sustainably, consume less, shop wisely, use less plastic, reduce your waste and walk or bike more.
Green Change will email you the address of this Zoom meetup when you register.
This commmunity event is hosted by Green Change director Fabrice Florin, with Marilyn Price, Bridget Mazzini and Al Grumet. If you have any questions, please email team@greenchange.net.
While schools are closed, a new veggie box program from the San Pedro School Farm feeds families.
Marin schools are shut down, and so are school lunch programs. But fresh vegetables from the San Pedro School Farm that used to go to school kitchens are still helping Marin families get the wholesome nutrition they need. That’s thanks to a new program by nonprofit Sanzuma, which manages the farm and is now selling boxes filled with freshly harvested organic produce to Marin residents on a subscription basis. The income will enable Sanzuma to continue their core mission of teaching nutrition classes and helping schools grow their own fresh produce once schools reopen.
“In normal times our healthy greens would feed hundreds of students each week, and we know families out there need it,” says Sanzuma’s Executive Director Lori Davis. “This box program is a great alternative to shopping in grocery stores, and is our way to continue to feed our community. Besides, it would be a shame for all these wonderful veggies to go to waste.”
Sanzuma‘s commitment to zero waste extends to packaging as well. Each week’s produce delivery arrives at the pickup location in durable, reusable plastic totes. After customers transfer the contents into their own bags or boxes, the totes go back to Sanzuma to be thoroughly washed and sanitized before the they’re filled again.
Zero Waste Marin supports Sanzuma’s work in low income schools, including nutrition education, school farms and meal programs.
Like most Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, Sanzuma’s boxes contain a mix of whatever produce is currently in season, but with a twist: an occasional wellness gift, like hand-made soaps, teas and flowers. “During this tough time, we need healthy food, but we need something for the soul as well,” says Davis. In addition, one box is donated to a family in need every other week.
The program has already been a huge success, with all subscription slots filled for now. Sanzuma is already thinking about how to scale up and plans to keep the veggie boxes going even when school deliveries are possible again. To get on the waiting list and to learn more about Sanzuma’s work with Marin schools, visit www.sanzuma.org.
Tomales Elementary students learn about their school’s recycling stations as part of the Zero Waste Schools Program.
Twenty-nine of Marin’s 49 public K-12 schools are enrolled in the Zero Waste Schools Program, and more are coming on board every year.
At these schools, students and staff conduct a waste assessment, learn about proper sorting and set up a comprehensive recycling and composting program. Funded by Zero Waste Marin, the Zero Waste Schools Program provides containers for indoor and outdoor discard stations as well as other equipment at no cost to the school. They also train teachers and staff, help with green team coordination and other ongoing zero waste activities. Schools that achieve their goals are certified and awarded with recognition and up to $2,500 in cash. To date, nine schools have been recognized.
Zero Waste School students learn important life lessons and keep waste out of the landfill. For example, Laurel Dell Elementary in San Rafael, one of the first schools to join the program in 2015, has increased the amount of waste that’s recycled or composted from 20% to 50%! That’s a win for the environment and helps reduce the school’s garbage bill. Every dollar not spent on waste is a dollar that can be better used educating our kids.
