A couple that I’ve read (or am in the process of reading):
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver invites you to share in the journey she and her family begin by becoming locavores, eating only that which they can grow or buy within 50 miles of their home. Kingsolver provides the narrative, while her daughter provides good seasonal recipes and her husband contributes interesting sidebars that dig deeper into the issue of CFO’s, GMO’s, etc.

Second Nature by Michael Pollan
Pollan, a veteran gardener, uses this book to comment on several different issues, giving a very informative, educated, and sometimes controversial view on weeds, organic gardening, and more.

on the “to read” list:
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

Orchard uses corn-based forks, knives, spoons, plates, and bowls for catering events at school and for those who need to take lunch back their classroom.

Using foam bowls, which they aren’t happy about, until they can find a better replacement. As Kermit would say “it’s not easy being Green.” HAHA!

Last year, they greatly reduced purchasing products with lots of packaging or additives. They make all their own soups and have a new rule that you can’t get 2nds until you finish your firsts! The kitchen recycles all cardboard, cans, and bottles. They’ve gotten their food waste down to a minimum and everything that is leftover is donated to Second Helpings or the Elementary School division director take the food to different social agencies and shelters serving children.

The school has created a hoop house and now grows its own lettuce and herbs used in the kitchen. Finally, they compost all their own scraps and shells. Kids at school take some veggie scraps out to the worms every day. Every year, the students tap their own syrup from the maple trees at school and make their own pancakes to enjoy the syrup with!

Because they’ve become a health-conscious kitchen, they have very little cooking oil anymore, but they are still looking for somewhere to recycle school cooking oil!

This summer, Orchard is hosting a “Green School’ 2-week day camp. Campers will research and design a strategy for turning the school completely Green, which might include a rooftop garden and other things. It already is host to multiple habitat/wildlife areas on its property all maintained by a full-time environmental/outdoor education teacher. Orchard has also hosted Majora Carter at a conference for middle school teams from around central Indiana last fall. These student teams are creating their own environmental justice projects.

Like many schools, Orchard students are regularly collecting batteries, have multiple recycling centers throughout the school, collect computers and electronics every year, and urge parents not to idle their cars during pick up.

Caribou Coffee
Bjava Coffee & Tea (you can even pick up coffee grounds for your garden!)
Global Gifts