My roles this afternoon included…
Realtor (Karen is house hunting!)
Sandwich model (I posed with this pimento cheese guy for a photoshoot for our local paper)
Businesswoman at the bakery:
Black Swan:
Heh heh
Granola bagging!! One of the best/worst things we do. (Best because it’s fun to see granola by the gallon/worst because it’s sooooo tedious.)
I ended up eating my model sandwich for an early dinner before Matt and I headed out to the Better Business Challenge Bash. The Better Business Challenge is a friendly competition among our local businesses to incorporate sustainable practices in their day-to-day operations.
We’re working on sustainability by:
- Donating our leftover bread and sweets to the food bank
- Donating our broken/damaged/old food to a pig farmer
- Donating used coffee grounds to a blueberry farmer
- Recycling everything we can
- Using local produce through the Local Food Hub when in season
- Supporting local vendors in our lobby retail sales
- Selling local freshly made soup instead of bagged foodservice soups
- Walking to work! (At least I do 🙂 )
The Bash tonight was a get together party for the businesses involved.
Since I had my sandwich for dinner, I snacked on cheese and crackers and sipped local sparkling wine
And hot apple cider!
Matt did not eat a sandwich and just cooked up a huge skillet of green beans (his appetizers were cheese, crackers, hummus, pesto, bread and veggies at the event). Going to join him on the couch for some Simpsons!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
One thing I have not had yet this season: hot apple cider. Fan.
Allie@LiveLaughEat says
Granola bagging is best because you can munch!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Sounds like you’ve had a fun day! Tony is eating a big bowl of green beans tonight for dinner too. Weird, but at least getting his veggies in! Have a great night Kath!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
so great to read about all of the efforts you are making to create sustainability — just one of the (many!) reasons i love local businesses. this may be a stupid question, but what does a blueberry farmer do with ground coffee?!
hot apple cider is perfectly perfect on a cold winter night.
Greta @ Staying Lost says
I think it’s to keep the soil at the right level of acidity?
KathEats says
It has to do with fertilizer – and yes, maybe acidity?
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
Wow. You guys should be really proud of you efforts. I hope more business can model themselves after you. Blessing always come when you put out so much good in the world. You and Matt both deserve them!
I always put my coffee ground in my compost, it is great for the soil.
I am addicted to apple cider tea at night. It really tastes like apple cider, but not any sugar!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Wow! Great job with your sustainability projects…I commend you! I imagine you must be leading the challenge with all your effort. How many businesses take part?
KathEats says
I’m not sure of the number, but I’d guess around 30?
lynn @ the actor's diet says
black swan 🙂
Grace says
so funny
Kelly @ Vegolosophy says
Hot Apple Cider sounds fantastic right now on this cold night in NYC! Enjoy your night 🙂
Molly @ RDexposed says
Awesome! Feeeeeeed those piggies!! I’m going to pretend it’s primarily jut to make them happy rather than for the butcher.
J3nn(Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
All great contributions! You set a wonderful example for other businesses. Hope Karen finds a smashing house!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
you had a lot going on today! And I love the sustainability initiative!
Lindsey @ happyhoneycrisp says
Wow, I love the Better Business Challenge idea! It’s amazing what you are doing to be a part of it. I think that the sustainability message is so important, because we only have one planet and often we take it for granted. Where is a better place to start spreading that message than your own business! Oh and YUM that sandwich looks so amazing!!
Erin says
That house is so pretty! And every time I read your blog, no matter what I’m eating, I always want what you have. Greedy toddler over here, haha!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Good luck to Karen on finding the perfect house. At least it’s a buyer’s market! Well, here it is anyway, hugely. Hope she finds a great one!
Emily says
kath…your life = my dream. incorporating nutrition and overall health principles into your EVERYday life…not just in a direct clinical setting (which does not appeal to me too much as i think about what area of nutrition i want to go into…but i applaud those who do go the clinical route because i think it would be so difficult but also VERY rewarding)…but using those principles in a way to benefit an entire community, which i think is SUCH a gift. i really hope to one day make even HALF of the impact you have made on what it means to live healthily and balanced…thank you SO much kath!
KathEats says
🙂 You are sweet
Ashley @ Coffee, Cake and Cardio says
Black swan, too funny!! We went to the Warrenton GF last weekend and it made me want to see halls store!
Meagan says
How cute, your husband eats huge amounts of green beans. Sounds like a keeper, right?
Nicole says
Kath! I literally JUST missed you at the bakery today – I saw you walking up as I was driving out. So sad :[
KathEats says
Awww – long time, no see!
Kate says
I’m so glad to hear you guys donate leftover baked goods to those in need. I worked at a cafe in high school (it was a Starbucks inside a Barnes and Noble) and we were forbidden from donating the day old pastries or taking them home. Seeing all that food wasted every day made me feel terrible!
KathEats says
Ouch!! I wonder why at least the employees couldn’t take them?
Anne says
I used to work at a Sheetz, and they had the same type of policy. I think it had to do with potential lawsuits (in case somehow the food was spoiled?). 🙁
Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic says
I love hot apple cider! My mom always used to heat red hots in apple juice for us – so good!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Mmmmm I could totally use a glass of sparkling wine right now! Busy day for you!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
So fun! I love all the local charitable work Great Harvest does. We need one near where Iive!! Your sandwich looks so good, I love pimento cheese!
Cait's Plate says
GAH! I want to dive head first into those bags of granola!!
Keri says
I so admire your efforts to be green and sustainable. If I lived anywhere near, I’d want to support you. Well, also because I love bread. Way too much. And granola too. Gallon bags?!?
Stephanie B. says
I love all of the things that you guys do to be sustainable – I’m sure it’s a lot of hard work but it’s so inspiring to see all of the effort you put into it!
Kavi @ Lab to Fab! says
I’m really impressed by your sustainability efforts! It’s wonderful that so many local businesses are teaming up together!
kaila@ healthy helper blog! says
Sounds like you guys already do a lot to be sustainable! Good luck on the challenge!
Angel7 says
Love the grey walls with white trim!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Becky O'Brien says
Great Kath! PLUS, by using those green Shaklee Get Clean products you’ve talked about, both in the bakery and at home, you’re contributing to the support of the environment, rather than contributing to the problem of using toxic cleaners.
Clare @ SweetnSimple says
LOVE the sustainability ideas, such a great initiative 🙂 And your model sandwich looks deeelicious!
Kelsey says
Nice work green girl!
Khushboo says
Nice green initiatives!
Lauren @ Fun, Fit and Fabulous! says
mmmmm granola! You’re making me hungry!
Sarah@studiofood says
Seeing that many bags of granola makes me happy, as do your efforts to create a responsible and sustainable business! 🙂
Tammy Loewy says
Great ideas for sustainability – and making a game out of it with other businesses! Will have to challenge some of our business friends in Lake Placid to do the same.
What do some of the other businesses do?
KathEats says
I just heard a few snippets but lots are working on reduce, reuse, recycle in all capacities
lau says
Good for the substanability =) great ideas !!
Emily @LivingLongfellow says
I hope Karen buys that house, so I can see it. It looks beautiful! I love the colors. That’s the color we just painted our study.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
You guys make such awesome efforts to be sustainable! All those other companies have some tough competition. 😉
Kim says
I am so happy to read about your efforts to sustainability. That’s so awesome! Love responsible businesses!
Karen says
Terrific work, Kath!
Sarah@The Flying ONION says
Sometimes hot apple cider just hits all the right spots. Especially when it’s nice and spicy! 😀
Megan says
That is AMAZING what you are doing for the local’s, community and environment. Hat’s off to you. That just made me all warm and fuzzy inside 🙂 Now if we could only get more on board with this..
Life's a Bowl says
What do blueberry farmers use coffee grounds for? Fertilizer? Y’all are def doing a great job executing the “reduce, reuse, and recycle” motto!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables says
I think it’s seriously so great how much you guys give back to the community with Great Harvest.
Kimberly says
It’s great that you’re making an effort towards sustainability, but have you considered not purchasing bottled water? Even if you recycle the bottles, it’s still much better to just drink tap water in a reusable bottle. Bottled water has fewer controls than tap water, so it might not even be as safe as your tap water is. Maybe you could get a Britta or some type of filter if your water has a bad taste? There is also a global problem of hydro-piracy, where water is stolen from communities/villages and bottled to be sold in the US, Europe, and the Middle East (mainly). Just thought you might be interested since it seems like you’re interested in sustainability and eco-friendly things.
KathEats says
We do offer tap water for customers dining in the store in the form of a water cooler, but I do feel we need to offer some bottled water for those on the go. We used to have compostable bottles but they started composting on us in the store and leaking so we had to switch 🙁
Kimberly says
Too bad about the compostable bottles, but at least you gave them a shot!
Lindzjane115 says
Does a day of wearing “many hats” exhaust or energize you? I find that some days I love it, and some days I feel so pulled in so many directions, I think I might burst! As with most things in life, balance is key…
KathEats says
this day it was fun 🙂
Allyson says
Has anyone ever told Matt that he looks like Ian Harding? I’m a big Pretty Little Liars fan (a little embarrassing since i’m 26 and still watching ABC Family 🙂 ), and Matt’s picture in this post reminded me of Ezra! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2870406/
KathEats says
He DOES!
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie says
I didn’t get that black swan thing for a sec and then it hit me! AHHH 🙂
Zoe @ loseweightandgainhealth says
Big thumbs up for being sustainable 🙂
~Christy says
Love the sustainable practices — we do much of the same at ours. 🙂 Way to go!!!