A Guide to San Diego Food Non-Profits
From farm advocacy to school gardens, feeding the homeless to nutrition classes, these non-profit groups are leading the fight for fair food in San Diego County.
15 Ways for Food Lovers to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week
When you perform random acts of kindness, you choose to be generous, mindful, and responsible as you share a good deed with a neighbor, a friend, or even yourself.
To celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, the third week of February, we’d like to propose some habits that demonstrate the power you have as a consumer and cook to make a difference in your neighborhood and beyond.
Read on to find suggestions for how to make this week (and year) a stellar one through your daily food choices.
Be a Conscious Consumer
1. Shop Your Local Farmers Market Support local farmers and food entrepreneurs and connect with neighbors through conversations as you shop at a farmers market. You’ll be taking care of the environment since less fuel was used to distribute produce, and taking care of yourself buying some of the freshest products you can get.
Check out our guide to find a farmers market near you.
2. Join a CSA If the idea of getting to a weekly farmers market seems overwhelming, consider a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) box instead. Local seasonal produce is shipped to your neighborhood or straight to your door.
If you’ve been thinking about supporting a local CSA, but are unsure of which choice is right for you, our online guide can help. The new year is the perfect time to try it.
3. Dine Out For Good When eating out, make your restaurant choice count. Hillcrest’s Tacos Libertad, a Cohn owned taqueria, donates all its profits to local charities like Burrito Boyz and Surfrider Foundation. With options like avocado tempura, octopus, and duck tacos your tastebuds will thank you. At Wrench and Rodent in Oceanside, Chef Davin Waite is known as one of the most sustainable sushi chefs in San Diego by using every part of the fish. Check out his seriously delicious and creative dishes.
4. Cater for a Cause Planning to cater an event this season? Consider choosing Kitchens for Good. This unique nonprofit serves many aspects of the community. They provide culinary training for at risk populations such as foster youth who experience high unemployment rates, fight food waste, and help relieve hunger for local seniors and youth.
5. Drink to Reduce Waste Local craft distillers at Misadventure and Co. Vodka in San Marcos want you to “Have your cake and drink it too”. By making their vodka from all kinds of unsold baked goods, they fight food waste every day. Find a bottle or order a cocktail at these retailers and restaurants.
Be Kind to the Earth
6. Grow Something San Diego is home to the ideal climate to grow your own food. You’ll feel connected to your plate and pleased with the produce you helped grow. And your kids will be more likely to eat fresh fruits and veggies they’ve grown too.
Need help getting started? Throughout the spring, Master Gardeners of San Diego County will hold workshops for beginning vegetable gardens. Find out more here.
7. Collect Water Conserve water by investing in a rain barrel. The City of San Diego offers rebates on rain barrels that connect to gutters, an easy way to save money while irrigating your yard and garden.
8. Clean-up Your Garbage Routine Composting reduces greenhouse gasses, and when added to gardens, helps produce healthier, more drought tolerant plants. Attend a composting workshop offered throughout the county or through the The Living Coast Discovery Center on Sundays.
Make Time to Give Back
9. Get in the Garden Get involved in a community garden where growing connections with neighbors is just as important as growing food. Lemon Grove Community Garden holds building events each Saturday as they develop their garden. Or, find a community garden near you .
10. Glean for Good Got citrus? Many San Diegans are overwhelmed by a bumper crop of oranges, grapefruit, and tangerines the time of year. If your trees are loaded with more fruit than you and your friends can use, consider signing up with a gleaning nonprofit that will pick your trees and share the wealth with food banks. Or, become a gleaner yourself. It’s great exercise and you’ll connect with like-minded neighbors when you lend a hand.
Check out one of these nonprofits to get started: Senior Gleaners - for volunteers 55 and older, Produce Good - winners of the 2018 National Food Recovery Challenge, or Harvest CROPS - based in Lemon Grove.
11. Give an Allergen-Free Gift Food allergies can be burdensome. Bring cheer to a family with food allergies by picking up a tray of delicious goodies. Starry Lane Bakery in Hillcrest offers cinnamon rolls, cookies, breads, and more all free from the top eight allergens.
12. Fight Hunger 1 in 8 San Diegans face food insecurity. Feeding San Diego volunteers sort food from grocery store shelves, repackage bulk products, and glean produce that otherwise would end up in the landfill. Just a couple of hours of hard work makes a big difference. Find out how your family or corporation can help.
Be Mindful in the Kitchen to Reduce Waste
13. Eat Your Leftovers According to Natural Resources Defense Council, 40% of food grown in the U.S. ends up in a landfill. Help curb a bit of that by eating leftovers for lunch. If you do big-batch cooking, share with someone having a rough time.
14. Store Food Differently Avoid single use products. Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Ditch plastics like straws and plastic baggies when storing foods or making lunches.
15. Eat Less Meat According to a recent publication in Science Magazine meat and dairy production is harsher on the planet than growing plant protein because so much land is required. Try our guide to vegan and seasonal recipes to get started on a diet that relies more on plant-based eating.
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