Earth Day arrives April 22^nd – time to honor our planet and protect it.

Did you know one of the most positive effects you can have on the environment begins on your dinner plate?

Food Waste: One-third of all food produced globally is wasted. That’s about 1.3 billion tons per year, contributing to 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. (UN Food and Agriculture Organization) If global food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the U.S. (World Resources Institute)

Animals: Animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire transportation sector combined. (FAO)

Carbon-Food Print: Switching from meat-centric to plant-forward can reduce your carbon “food” print by up to 50%. Even just reducing makes a significant impact. (University of Oxford)

Go Plant-Based for the Day – Swap out meat and dairy for delicious plant-based meals to reduce your carbon footprint. Try a veggie-packed stir-fry with brined tofu, lentil tacos, or a creamy dairy-free mac and cheese.

Support Local Farmers – Visit a farmer’s market or sign up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box to enjoy fresh, seasonal produce while reducing food miles.

Host a Zero-Waste Feast – Plan a meal using every part of your ingredients (think carrot-top pesto) and compost your scraps. Bonus points for reusable plates and utensils.

Cook with Climate-Friendly Foods – Choose foods that require fewer resources to grow, such as dried beans, vegetables and whole grains.

Ditch the Plastic – Bring your own bags, buy in bulk, and choose glass or compostable packaging to cut down on waste when shopping for groceries.

Grow Your Own Ingredients – Whether it’s a full garden or just a pot of herbs on your windowsill, growing your own food reduces emissions and brings you closer to nature.

Rescue & Repurpose Leftovers – Turn last night’s dinner into something new. Leftover roasted veggies? Make a frittata. Extra rice? Add it to soup. Chefs Tip: Ask Chat GPT (free version) what to do with the leftover bits in your refrigerator.

Here’s a list of upcoming Bay Area Earth Day food events. Most of what we found was in the City, so if you have any local suggestions, please leave them in the comment section.

For more Bay Area Earth Day events click HERE.

Saturday, April 19: Earth Day Stroll through San Francisco

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Pack a picnic to enjoy after the event.

Monday, April 21: Addressing Climate Change – What We Eat/How We Grow It

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM, The Melody, San Francisco

Thursday, April 24: Urban Adamah Jewish Community Farm Tour

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Berkeley

Thursday, April 24: Sustainable Food and Wine Expo

2:00 PM – 5:30 PM, One Market Plaza, San Francisco

Grab an early bird general admission ticket for $25!

Tuesday, April 22: Sustainable Foods Potluck

5:00 PM – 8:00PM, San Francisco. Click HERE to RSVP

Tuesday, April 22: 35th BAAnniversary Zoom

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Click HERE to register

Calling all Rad Sheep! Earth Day 1990 brought together group of young activists who went on to build one of the Bay Area’s most iconic environmental organizations – Bay Area Action (BAA) (now Acterra). This evening we look back on BAA’s influence with the unveiling the BAA History Project, designes by ol’ Rad Sheep Mark Bult. Earth Day habitat restoration, creek cleanups and an impressive Schools Group were all part of BAA legacy, as well as EEAT (Environmental Eating Action Team) and its beloved Decadent Dinner Parties. EEAT was among the first food and environment education projects in the U.S. Please join this online reunion of good spirits and inspiring works. It’s still all about Action!