Clarence Birdseye invented the quick freezing method in 1924, but the ready-to-eat revolution didn't really start until the 1950s. By the 1970s, home freezers were widespread, and on March 6, 1984, President Reagan approved a National Frozen Food Day
Happy February from the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge! Check out our ACTION OF THE MONTH, Walk, Bike, Skateboard or Unicycle. Why not make it fun and possibly profitable? 511 Contra Costa’s Winter Walk Challenge will get you outside and on the move
For those of us who live in car-centric suburban areas far from any urban center, it's getting more challenging to combine walking, biking, and public transportation to get to the places you want to go. Many of us value living in a place where you ca
Looking to buy flowers for that special someone? Think twice! Flowers are wonderful to share with others, but let’s take off our rose-colored glasses and look at the reality of retail flowers.
Of all flowers sold in the U.S., about 78% are imported
Read more…With Californians learning to live more safely with COVID, large events resuming and employers signaling a return to office, the Bay Area's transit agencies are working together to provide information regarding transit services schedule updates and t
Millions of people around the world enjoy drinking tea every day. They may drink it purely for flavor or its calming, comforting, invigorating, or health benefits. But you might be surprised to learn that tea may have a sinister side.
The very thing
Read more…The presents have been unwrapped and the new year is underway, but as you draft your new year's resolutions, don’t forget about eating locally and reducing your food miles! California’s mild climate means that farmers’ markets are selling all kinds o
On January 1, a new state law (SB 1383) came into effect that requires all people and businesses to separate things like leftover food and kitchen scraps from the rest of their trash.
Organics like food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard m
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Last month, we discussed how this would likely be a La Nina winter and the challenge of heavy rains compressed over several days at a time. The good news is that water reservoirs are filling up and the Sierra snowpack is
Read more…When we think of assistance with heating bills, most of us imagine rural homeowners in New England needing help with paying for enough fuel oil to last the long winter months. But a recent headline in the East Bay Times read: “Falling temperatures br
Cold winter nights call for warm blankets and cozy candles. But not all candles are the same. The next time you light a candle, check the label and see what kind of candle it is. Depending the ingredients, you may be giving your health a boost—or cre
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Photo by Atilla Bingöl on Unsplash
A little background first…
Global temperatures impact how heat and moisture move around the planet. Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels (gasoline, natural gas, etc.) and methane (mainly from agricultural
Read more…On September 23 of this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 24 bills dedicating $15 billion to meeting the current and future challenges of Global Climate Change in California. That’s scary; that much legislation all at the same time. Imagi
Are you looking for a way to keep your home warm and energy efficient as the weather gets colder? You’re in the right place!
Join Sustainable Contra Costa and Contra Costa County for our upcoming BayREN Home+ Homeowner Workshop on Thursday, December
Read more…It’s harvest season and farmers markets are open for business. Markets across Contra Costa are offering a variety of fresh, organic produce that just might make your Thanksgiving grocery list--and maybe even the menu. More often than not, your local
Photo by Naja Bertolt Jensen on Unsplash
Remember the giant garbage patch in the middle of the ocean? Known officially as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and nicknamed “the eighth continent," the patch gained international attention when, back in 19
Read more…We live in the center of all things "disruptive." For example, think about Facebook, Google, and Twitter and how these services have changed how we communicate—or not communicate—with one another. Technology is morally neutral, but how we use it make
