Sustainability Interest Group - The Difference Between Store Bought and Home Grown (Taste, Nutrition Value, Cost) ***Zoom meeting***
Lucy, Burke@CalRecycle
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Grass Roots Circular Economy and Climate Action |
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Join the Sustainability
Interest Group
at CalEPA to discuss sustainable
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***Join Zoom Meeting*** |
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Meeting ID: 943 2309 4649 Passcode: 618495 One tap mobile +16699006833,,94323094649#,,,,*618495# US +16694449171,,94323094649#,,,,*618495# US
**No meeting April 1 (no joke!)** |
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The Difference Between Store Bought and Home Grown (Taste, Nutrition Value, Cost) |
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
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Industrial farming in the last 60 years has produced bland tomatoes for instance, that are bred for firmness, round skin, and durability more than taste. Tomatoes today have 30 percent less vitamin C, 30 percent less thiamin, 19 percent less niacin, and 62 percent less calcium when compared to those sold in 1960. Tomatoes are grown at home more than any other produce because of that taste difference. But tomatoes are just one of many examples.
In our March 18 meeting our own Nathan Patenaude (Water Board) will share some research on the differences between store bought and home-grown produce. |
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First Post-Pandemic Crop Swap! And Farmer’s Box Discussion |
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Tuesday, April 15, 2025
From humble beginnings we had our first crop swap at CalEPA close to this time eight years ago and it grew into colleagues sharing a huge bounty of produce throughout the years. This will be our first post-pandemic crop swap at the CalEPA building!
For those of you staying home that day, we’ll still have an online meeting to discuss farmer’s boxes. If you’ve subscribed to a farmer’s box that gets delivered to your door periodically, come share your experiences with it. Is it worth it? Is it basically Grubhub for the farmer’s market? We’ll compare prices, view the selection from at least one farmer’s box setup, and explore any other options out there. Please share any photos or screenshots of the selection you have in your farmer’s box.
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Climate Ride
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Climate Ride Green Fondo, May 16-18, 2025
If you’d like to contribute even a dollar to Shaina Meiners’ Climate Ride Green Fondo fundraiser, she says she feels less alone as she struggles up those hills. Shaina woke up on New Years with some inkling of the challenges this year might bring and wanted to do something positive, which resulted in starting even in her spare time to do a similar thing as her work of trying to funnel money to groups doing needed work for our Earth. The Climate Ride Green Fondo is funded separately, and 100% of any donations, which are tax deductible, go to the beneficiaries she selected. Shaina said she actually put too much thought into picking them, trying to reflect on what is needed on the current moment: Streets For All Intersectional Environmentalist EarthJustice |
Plastics / Packaging
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Walmart says it’s unlikely to meet 2025 plastics, recycling targets |
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Waste Dive, Mach 12, 2025
Walmart does not expect to meet its 2025 plastic packaging reduction and recyclability targets, the retailer revealed in an update published Feb. 28. This follows Walmart saying at the end of 2024 it would miss 2025 and 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. |
Plastics / Packaging
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Scientific American, March 6, 2025
A new study, published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, reveals how microplastics hinder photosynthesis across a wide range of plant species—including crucial food crops. “It’s really scary,” says Marcus Eriksen, a marine scientist at the 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit plastic pollution research organization, who was not involved in the study. |
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Sacramento Area Landscape Rebate Programs |
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· State of California Turf Replacement Program · Sacramento County Water Agency Cash for Grass o $2000 rebate · Sacramento Suburban Water District Rebate includes:
· Sacramento City’s River-Friendly Landscape Rebates cover a maximum of: o $3,000 at $1.50 per square of grass converted on the front, side and back yard o $400 for materials used to convert to drip irrigation for front, side or back yard o $400 for adding EPA WaterSense Labeled Smart Irrigation Controller. · Carmichael Water District Turf Replacement Rebate · Citrus Heights Water District Rebate Program
· Folsom Cash for Grass Turf Replacement Rebate
· Placer County Lawn Replacement Rebate Program · Roseville Cash for Grass Utility Rebates · West Sacramento Smart Controller Rebate and Water Wise House Call · Woodland Mulch Rebate · Yolo County Water Conservation Rebate Program |
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See the edible low water use plant example found in the City of Sacramento’s River Friendly Landscape Plant List below.
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Society Garlic |
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Size: 1 ft. x 1 ft. Water Requirement: Low Type: Perennial Edible Uses: Leaves and stems - raw or cooked. A mild garlic flavor, they are used as a flavoring in soups and salads. Flowers - raw or cooked. They can be added to salads, used as a garnish or as a flavoring in cooked foods. The flowers are very ornamental, they have a sweet, onion-like heat in the mouth.
Physical Characteristics: This evergreen perennial is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral, and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Known Hazards: None known |
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March Gardening Tips |
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Prune – Perennials, Shrubs, or Trees |
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Prune tree and shrub suckers (branches sprouting directly from the root stock beneath the soil). |
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Protect Vegetable Transplants |
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Protect young summer vegetable transplants from cold snaps through late March with insulating devices such as hot caps or the Walls of Water. |
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Look for Snails |
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Snails will soon begin their annual trek to your tender, young foliage. Look for them hiding in the evenings beneath plants and piles of lumber now before they start eating. |
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Place Mulch Around Trees |
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Add three inches of mulch under your fruit trees and shrubs to keep weeds down. Keep the mulch at least an inch away from the trunks to avoid rot. |
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Check out the companion plants along with the harvest and plant guide below for plants to plant by seed or transplant. Consider companion planting caveats when compared to intercropping. |
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Plants to Avoid |
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Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Bush beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onions |
pole beans, field mustard, and charlock (wild mustard) |
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Basil and other herbs, Carrots Cucumbers Squash as part of a three-way companion partnership |
Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, corn, fennel, and eggplant |
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Beans, Chives, Garden peas, Leeks, Legumes, Lettuce, Onions, Radishes, Tomatoes |
Dill, Fennel, Parsnips |
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Cucumbers, Spinach, Lettuce, Peas, Mint, Parsnips, Beans, Chervil, Dill, Oregano, Peppers, Tomatoes |
Melon, Pumpkin, Corn, Sunflowers, Hyssop, Potatoes, Kohlrabi, Turnips |
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Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Kale, Kohlrabi, Rutabagas, Turnips, Corn, Lettuce, Spinach, Radishes |
Members of the Cabbage Family, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Raspberries, Carrots, Asparagus, Sunflowers, Fennel |
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Celery, Lettuce, Bush Beans, Peas, Rosemary, Marjoram, Thyme, Mint, Lavender, Basil, Chives, Leeks, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Radishes, Kale, Onions, Collard Greens, Garlic |
Sunflowers, Beets, Quinoa, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins, Corn |
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Pole Beans, Thyme, Squash, Potatoes, Dill, Mint |
Cabbages, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Fennel |
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Sacramento Area Planting and Harvest Guide |
Also see the UC Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule
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This group is about sharing bountiful vegetable gardens with others. |
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Contact Will Cannady for more information. |
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In 2019, Martha Hogan started a local @cityofwestsac Facebook group called #WestsacCropSwap. They share and swap fruits and veggies home grown LOCALLY that would otherwise go to waste. If you know of families that may be in need of healthy fruits or veggies please have them reach out. |
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Sacramento |
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Folsom |
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Citrus Heights |
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Rancho Cordova |
Check out what you can borrow from the Sacramento Library in these categories:
Arts & Crafts ● Electronics & Technology ● Games & Hobbies ● Health
Kitchen Equipment ● Musical Instruments ● Recreation ● Science and Maker
Tools ● Video Games ● Yard Games
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Oak Park What: Free repair: bikes, clothes, lamps, tools, small appliances, knife sharpening. Plus, coffee, tea, snacks, beans & rice When: 11am-2pm, 2nd Saturday of every month Where: Community Shop Class, 3818 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento (turn into parking lot behind Trips For Kids Bike Shop)
West Sacramento What: West Sac residents can repair their bikes, clothing, and electronics for free. When: 10am-1pm, last Saturday of every month Where: Arthur F. Turner Library at 1212 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento. |
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Check out the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), which supports bike infrastructure and safety through advocacy, their Bike Valet program, Ride Ready Repair, BikeMatchSac, bicycle safety at night through Lights On, skills training, and Support for Businesses. |
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Did you know you could get $20 per month for reducing the number of cars on the road and biking in 11 times per month by completing the Bicycle Commuter Program Quarterly Self-Certification form? Check out the Bicycle Commuter Program FAQ for more information. |
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Don’t Change Your Car’s Motor Oil Too Soon - Check Your Number |
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Use CalRecycle’s Check Your Number website to find the manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals for most vehicles (2000 - 2021).
Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds (CalRecycle). The “every 3,000 miles or every three months” rule is outdated because of advances in both engines and oil. Many automakers have oil-change intervals at 7,500 or even 10,000 miles and six or 12 months (Consumer Reports). |
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Fuel economy is reduced by 0.2 percent for every 1 pound per square inch (psi) your car is underinflated. That means you could save up to 3 percent in gas mileage, according to the DMV, which is naturally a little more environmentally friendly, too. |
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Save Electricity, Save Money |
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…and save the Planet by running your dishwasher, washer, dryer, or EV charger in off-peak times (typically avoid 4-9pm). Depending on your electricity provider, download, print, and keep handy the rate details schedule from SMUD (like below), PG&E, VCE (Yolo County), or Roseville Electric.
SMUD Rate Schedule
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Super Trees! |
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Consider planting any of these Super Trees! They’re water-wise for the Sacramento area—all but the loquat tree are on the City of Sacramento’s River Friendly Landscape Plant List, they have edible fruit (pomegranate or strawberry) or flavorful leaves (sweet bay), they attract beneficial wildlife, provide cooling shade in the summer, most let warming light through in the winter, and all but the olive have fruit and are free to SMUD customers (subject to availability). Check out SMUD’s Free Shade Tree Program and Free Tree List. |
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Up to 10 Free Trees |
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The Sacramento Tree Foundation will give you up to 10 free trees for your yard. Check out the Shady 80 recommended trees for a cooler Sacramento region. You can also volunteer to help the City plant 25,000 new trees per year through 2045. |
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Free Wood Chips |
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Adding wood chips to your yard each year will lead to healthier plant growth by reducing weeds, cooling the soil in the summer, conserving water, and slowly adding organic matter as it breaks down. You can get free wood chips by signing up for ChipDrop or you can search for tree trimmers in your area, then call or complete their website form to request free wood chips the next time they cut down and shred a tree in your neighborhood. SMUD customers can also pick up wood chips. ChipDrop may give you up to 20 cubic yards, which could cover 9 inches of a standard ranch-style home/property; more than the recommended 4 to 6 inches. To prevent nitrogen depletion or spreading diseases, only apply as ground cover in shrub beds, natural areas, and around trees while keeping the mulch away from the tree trunks and vegetables or annual flower beds. |
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Debbie Arrington is a master rosarian. Kathy Morrison Hellesen is a UCCE master gardener. Together they have more than 60 years of gardening experience in California, most of that in Sacramento's grower-friendly climate. They believe all gardening is local. They both love to cook what they grow. They also are longtime journalists (at the Sacramento Bee and elsewhere) who believe Sacramento deserves local gardening coverage. |
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Take a Plant, Leaf a Plant *Free* Sacramento (Map) |
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Consider donating or volunteering for Harvest Sacramento |
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Resoil Sacramento |
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ReSoil Sacramento advocates for three things that we can do to address our changing climate: 1) compost, 2) grow our own food, and 3) build regenerative, climate-resilient landscapes. Check out the latest and get involved. |
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Consider Donating Extra Produce at any area food pantry |
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Consider forwarding this email to invite a friend or colleague to:
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Note: |
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1) Every pound of homegrown vegetables you grow can cut 2 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the store-bought counterpart, although what you eat matters more (e.g., fruits, nuts, and vegetables) than how it’s transported. 2) A single home compost bin diverts approximately 646 pounds of waste from landfill each year. |