The GreenTown Green Gardeners list is here thanks to the contributions of GreenTown community members. This list was created in response to multiple requests from people who were seeking a recommended gardener who use electric leaf blowers . These gardeners obey the Los Altos ban on gas leaf blowers. We encourage you to discuss the details with the gardeners for further information in you decision process. If you know a gardener who would like to be on this list, have them contact lindaz@greentownlosaltos.org and submit 2 references. To learn more about why Gas-powered leaf blowers are illegal in over 170 cities across the country and why they are highly polluting, unhealthy, and noisy, visit the GreenTown Don't Blow-It webpage . Green Gardners' List in no particular order Andres Hernandez (650) 518-2306 Ernesto Martinez Gardening Care Service ernestogardens@gmail.com AZ Gardening and Landscaping (408) 413-8447 Jaime’s Gardening and Landscaping Jaime Perez (408) 375-8525 4238 Rosenbaum Ave, San Jose 95136 Barriga’s Expert Gardening Arturo Barriga (408) 661-5306 Arturo barriga 022811@gmail.com Curtis Horticulture Stephanie Curtis info@curtishort.com curtishort.com Mario Gaspar 669-238-8870 mgaspar@christemmahorticulture.com

KJ Janowski, Los Altos Our home We purchased our four-bedroom, three-bath house near downtown Los Altos in 1994 and renovated and added on to it in 2000 and 2005. It now comprises 2750 square feet of conditioned space. During our 2005 renovation, we upgraded the master electric panel to 200 amps. So, we had plenty of capacity for all our electrification efforts. As of January 2025, our home and our motor vehicles are fully electric. Our main motivation for removing fossil fuels from our transportation and our home was environmental. Methane gas can trap 80 times  as much heat in the atmosphere as do carbon dioxide emissions. So, combusting “natural” (i.e. methane) gas in our home meant we were contributing unnecessarily to global warming. And since we were getting 100% clean electricity from Silicon Valley Clean Energy, none of the electricity that we would substitute would be coming from burning fossil fuels. We also had concerns about the health and safety impacts of burning gas for cooking and other uses. The start of the journey The first gas appliance that we replaced with electric was our clothes dryer in May 2008 after an appliance failure. I had a duct cleaning service over once and was alarmed when the service technician showed me the flames in the back of the gas dryer! This did not seem safe to me! Electrifying our rides In 2017, we got our first fully electric vehicle, a Chevrolet Bolt EV, and installed a 30 amp ChargePoint charger. Then in 2022, we replaced our gasoline-powered car with a Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Our ChargePoint charger synchronizes with our electric rate schedule and ensures that we charge during off-peak hours. (Of course, if we ever really needed to charge during peak hours, it is easy to override that.) Given our miles driven and the kWh/mile of each of our cars, we estimate that the cost of EV charging in 2024 (under our E-TOU-C rate plan) was about $1800. The switch to clean and responsive induction cooking Induction Cooktop In May 2021, we began taking additional steps to electrify our home, replacing our Thermador gas cooktop. We splurged and got a 36” Wolf induction cooktop and replaced the downdraft ventilation system. Cost: $5,696 (of which $2,417 was the new ventilation system) Rebates: BayREN rebate of $250 Tax credits: none We love this cooktop because it is more responsive than gas, heats up very quickly, is much easier to clean and safer than cooking over flames. We never smell gas in the house. Since the cooktop is on an island in our kitchen, the sleek, smooth induction cooktop surface essentially expands our counter space. So, for example, we can use it to serve dishes buffet style.  Comfortable, clean heat pump HVAC Heat Pump HVAC In June 2022, we replaced our gas furnace with a heat pump HVAC system. We were able to use the existing ducts without modification or additional cost. The air handler for the heat pump fit in the attic crawl space where the gas furnace had been. The heat pump component of the system was installed on the west side of our home, where the solar inverter and master electric panel were already installed. Since a heat pump HVAC basically runs forwards and backwards, whole home air conditioning was automatically a part of the installation. We installed a 5-ton Mitsubishi with a MERV 16 whole house filtering system. Cost: $19,533 Rebates: $3,000 TECH rebate Tax credit: $500 We have found that the HVAC system heats our home much more evenly than the gas furnace. The gas furnace would come on and make some noise and blow warm air through the ducts. Then the house would cool down and the heat would kick on again. In winter the house stays much more consistently comfortable than with the gas furnace. As the climate continues to warm, we appreciate the comfort of whole house A/C during high heat events. (Previously we only had A/C in two bedrooms.)  We also wanted the whole house filtration system so that we can have clean indoor air in the event of wildfire smoke. The last gasp of gas - heat pump water heating Heat Pump Water Heater In January 2025, our final gas appliance was replaced when our gas water heater gave out. We replaced our 50 gallon gas water heater with a 66 gallon State ProLine XE heat pump water heater. We included a thermal mixer on the system. This means that the water can be heated to a higher temperature and then mixed with cold water, essentially expanding the delivered capacity of the water heater. Cost: $5,758 Rebate: SVCE $2,000 Anticipated tax credit: 30% of $5,758 or $1,727 In July 2025, we had our gas meter removed and will be receiving a $500 rebate from Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Our electric bill In 2012, before we embarked on our electrification journey, we installed a relatively small rooftop solar system (2.96 kW). This was done as a prepaid lease for a total of $10,733. Since this was a lease, the system is actually owned by Sunrun. We are on a Net Energy Metering (NEM 1.0) rate schedule, which is no longer available. If we were to expand our rooftop solar, we would likely have to remove the existing system and install a new system as well as switch to the latest, less favorable NEM rate schedule. In 2024, the system generated a total of 3260 kWh. We have been on a time-of-use rate plan since 1994. We have had several different electric rate plans since then. In recent years we transitioned from E6 time-of-use to E-TOU-C and, as of August 2025, we are on the E-ELEC rate . The biggest single consumers of electricity are our vehicles. Given the annual mileage of our two cars and the average miles/kWh (4.1-4.5), we estimate an annual cost (under E-TOU-C rates) to be about $1800/year. This cost will be reduced significantly with the new E-ELEC rate, since the off-peak price/kWh will be 22-26% lower than under E-TOU-C. Winter peak rates under E-ELEC, when we might be heating the house, will be 23% lower under the new E-ELEC rates. Annual electricity cost in 2019: $745.62 Annual gas cost in 2019: $883.94 Annual electricity cost in 2024 (all electric except water heater): $3,624 (usage from the grid: 8440 kWh) Annual gas cost in 2024 (water heater was the only gas appliance): $334 We feel good about not combusting fossil fuels in our home or transportation. Increased comfort and safety are bonus effects! We look forward to the expected reductions in our electric bill under the new E-ELEC rate plan. If we were planning to be in our home for another decade or two, we might consider replacing our undersized rooftop solar system with a larger one and exploring battery storage. Date Appliance Cost Rebate Tax Credit Net Cost May 2021 Wolf 36” Induction Cooktop and new downdraft ventilation system $5,696 $250 $0 $5,446 June 2022 Mitsubishi heat pump HVAC 5-ton $19,533 $3,000 $500 $16,033 January 2025 State ProLine XE 66 gal. heat pump water heater $5,758 $2,000 $1,727 $2,031 Gas meter removal $500 -$500 Totals $30.987 $5,750 $2,227 $23,010

Today, more than ever, you can’t believe every headline you read. Almost as absurd as the idea of heat pumps causing pregnancy are the online claims from special interest groups about the prices of these appliances. Despite their deception, the truth is that installing a heat pump can cost you about the same as its gas alternative while providing a less toxic home and saving you hundreds of dollars a year in operational costs. There are numerous rebates available, some of which expire at the end of this year due to policy changes in Washington . We encourage you to explore your options now and act before you miss out on the best rebates. The rebate landscape varies depending upon which rebate allocations are used up or not, as well as city by city. If you are in Mountain View or Palo Alto, for example, you can get additional rebates for certain appliances, like heat pump water heaters, up to an additional $2,000! Almost all the rebates are ‘stackable’, meaning you can add them all up for even better savings. Certain income-qualifying households get even more rebates, literally making the new electric appliance and related electrical improvements free. Of course, there are outlier circumstances, like if the house configuration does not allow the change to certain electric appliances until technology evolves. A current pro-gas campaign will try to scare you by grabbing onto these outliers and using numbers for full home electrification rather than a simple heat pump installation. They claim most households will have to pay $50,000 to $100,000 to upgrade to a heat pump. Those are simply not defensible claims. In most cases, the math with the rebates makes great sense to act today, even if your gas appliance is not at end of life. All electric homes are the future, and the rebates are here now. Given the changing rebate landscape, we recommend you consult a contractor who manages the rebate process for you. The best places to see the qualifying rebates and find these contractors are: The Switch Is On  - incentives in California and a list of qualified contractors. Silicon Valley Clean Energy  – They have a ‘help desk’ you can call/email/chat with to help direct you in addition to a rich online description of rebates they offer. You can also reference the contractors that GreenTown vetted who exhibited at our Living Electric Fair in May in Los Altos. Federal Tax Credit : Save even more with a  30% tax credit , but only throug h December 2025 . Here's what you need to know .

By Vivaan Kuruganti and Margie Suozzo GreenTown created the WoW! program to reduce the impact of fossil-fuel based transportation on the environment – fewer car trips means less air pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions and to share the joys of walking and bicycling around town with residents. Not only does it feel good, but it’s good for you. For students, choosing to walk or wheel to school even a couple days a week is fun, supports focus in the classroom, helps protect the planet for the future, and boosts overall health. Why Walk or Wheel? Walking or biking to school offers a range of benefits for individuals and the community: Health & Focus:  A bit of movement before school boosts energy, focus, and builds lifelong healthy habits. Traffic & Safety:  Fewer cars at drop-off and pick-up times mean less congestion and safer streets. Environment:  Reducing car trips cuts air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions—small changes that help protect the planet. WoW! Momentum Is Growing Last year, Los Altos schools saw strong participation in the WoW! program. Families discovered new walking and biking routes, enjoyed quiet mornings together, and noticed a calmer start to the day. This year, GreenTown is excited to keep that momentum going with the help of school partners, including parent volunteers. Talk to your school about how they can implement prizes or fun activities with the WoW Program! Schools can offer a variety of items depending on what they choose such as pencils and stickers and other small prizes. If a school offers these they can collect them from the school's PTA lead. These tokens celebrate the effort it takes to choose a healthy, active way to get to school.  WoW’s Benefits GreenTown’s primary motivation for creating the WoW! program was to reduce the impact of fossil-fuel based transportation on the environment, and improve participants' health. Fewer car trips mean less air pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions. More walks in the morning help open up the mind and can start the day with exercise. Choosing to walk or wheel, even a couple of days each week, is one way families can help protect the planet for the future and boost your overall health. How to Get Started Ready to WoW!? Here’s how: Prep your gear:  Make sure bikes, scooters, and helmets are in good condition and that helmets fit properly. Practice the route:  Before school starts, walk or ride the route with your child so they’re confident on day one. Start small:  Aim for a couple of days per week and build from there. Travel with friends:  Invite neighbors or classmates—walking school buses and bike trains are great ways to build community and stay safe. Stay connected:  Look out for special WoW! Days and school-wide events. Parents, you can also support by volunteering or helping coordinate walking school buses or bike trains. Contact GreenTown or your school PTA to learn more. WoW day at Gardner Bullis Elementary School Whether your family walks a few blocks or bikes a few miles, every step and pedal stroke helps make our environment cleaner, safer, and more connected. Let’s keep up the momentum and make this year the best yet for walking and wheeling to school. To help your kids get to school safety, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Actionis holding a Bicycle Safety Workshop for upper elementary and junior high students on August 23, 9:45am at the Los Altos Community Center. Register here . For updated safety route maps, tips, or to get involved, visit the WoW! website or email info@greentownlosaltos.org .

We are excited to introduce our 2025 summer interns! Our summer intern program is now in its 8th year and we are delighted to welcome this year - Luke Byrne, Donovan Carlson, Taylor Luna, Sahana Srinivasan and Huck Twerdahl. Huck, Luke & Sahana will be working on the "Sustainable Urban Landscapes" project. There is great interest in creating sustainable urban landscapes featuring native plants as such landscapes are resilient, drought-tolerant and support local wildlife, especially birds, bees and butterflies. The interns will be researching this topic, best practices, efforts in other communities, and recommending a plan of action for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills They will be mentored by Gary Hedden (past GreenTown President & 500Trees founder) , Mahduri Kotagairi (GreenTown board member) & K J Janowski ( former board member and marketing director ). Donovan & Taylor be will be working on " GreenScape Changemaker: Community & Climate Action " project. They will work on developing a program to advance Los Altos' climate action goals by engaging local leaders and community groups in sustainale green practices. They will be using the Heritage Apricot Orchard as a local example of sustainable landscaping. They will be mentored by Jane Packard (Los Altos History Museum and Orchard Committee member),  Glenda Chang  (GreenTown board member) Luke Byrne Hi! I'm Luke Byrne, a rising senior at Los Altos High School. My Journey to environmental advocacy and stewardship began at a very young age. As a kid I always loved being outdoors and playing in my yard with my siblings all day. Much of my elementary school days were spent in cub scouts doing community service and spending lots of time outdoors. These activities taught me an appreciation for nature and the recreational value of these spaces such as our local Redwood Grove, Baylands, and Arastradero preserves. Once I got to high school I was immediately drawn to the Schools environmental club Green Team. Due to my love for preserved natural ecosystems I joined the Habitat restoration project group where we coordinated the installation of bird boxes on campus. In Sophomore year I found Right On Refillery now Ethos which aligned perfectly with my passion for low waste living and conservation. I got the job and decided that year to swivel to the Lifestyle project group as it coincided with the work I was doing and still do at the refillery. For part of Junior year I participated in the Green Team’s waste project group where we created educational videos on waste disposal, advocated for more twin bins, and more coherent bin signage. Now I am the incumbent president of the Green Team and am working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we have an extremely successful year devoted to climate and environmental advocacy and impactful campus projects. In my freetime I love to spend much time in the garden where I do my best to make a hub for biodiversity and pollinators. Huck Twerdahl Hello, I’m Huck, a rising senior at the Woodside Priory School. My early interest in the environment stemmed from growing up next to the Redwood Grove and volunteering there with Grassroots Ecology, and it has only continued since. Last summer, I worked at i8 labs collecting data about pedestrians and cyclists in Bay Area cities to encourage safety and accessibility in public parks. Currently, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the Virginia Department of Forestry, I’m designing a series of food forests – public gardens that mimic the way food grows in nature – in unused urban lots to provide communities with public green spaces. I’m passionate about promoting the health of our local environment in urban areas, and I’m super excited to work with GreenTown this summer to promote sustainability in Los Altos landscapes! In the future, I hope to combine my knowledge about the environment with my passion for architecture and landscape architecture to create sustainable spaces for people to come together. Sahana Srinivasan Hi! I'm a rising senior at Los Altos High School. I've always had a strong passion for sustainability and fighting climate change. I'm the vice president of LAHS' Green Team, and outside of school I am a co lead of the MVLA branch of a youth driven climate organization, SVYCA. I also love to volunteer for green causes. In school, I am also the executive producer of the TedX Club, and am involved with our USABO club. My favorite subjects in school are math and history, and I love to listen to music and go on long walks with my dog! Donovan Carlson Hello! I’m Donovan, a rising senior at Henry M. Gunn High School. I’m a two-year member of Palo Alto’s Youth Climate Advisory Board, working to advance the city’s climate goals by pursuing my passions in zero waste and water conservation. I’ve also worked as a Student Ambassador for Acterra and a volunteer for Grassroots Ecology. My appreciation for the intrinsic beauty of nature blossomed into a passion for environmentalism as I began to treasure the value of tangible, grassroots sustainability efforts on the local level. Outside of sustainability and environmental advocacy, I love writing, cross country, and hiking Taylor Luna Hello! My name is Taylor Luna, and I am an incoming freshman at UC Berkeley, majoring in Ethnic Studies with a minor in Public Policy. I aspire to become a litigation attorney and serve as a prosecutor in a District Attorney’s Office. My interest in environmental issues began when I learned that climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities—particularly low-income communities and communities of color—through heightened exposure to air pollution, toxic water, and other consequences of urban density. I am beyond thrilled to explore my passion for the intersection of climate justice and culture through the Greenscapes Changemaker Internship under Dr. Jane Packard and Mrs. Glenda Chang. I look forward to increasing multicultural and multigenerational participation in the Los Altos Heritage Orchard Harvest, and most importantly, ensuring that these communities’ voices are heard and respected in how they engage with the space.

Post by David Lawrence Chang When I first learned that I was going on a school service trip to New Orleans (NOLA) to help build houses and assist with hurricane relief, my initial thought was, "Wasn't Hurricane Katrina more than 20 years ago? Why do they still need help recovering?" But as I looked deeper, I realized that the city has endured more than just Katrina. Hurricanes Ida (2021), Laura (2020), and Zeta (2020) have all caused severe damage, leaving lasting impacts on homes and infrastructure. Katrina, the deadliest hurricane in U.S. modern history (and way before I was even born), caused catastrophic flooding after levee failures, and more recent disasters like the 2011 Mississippi River floods and the 2017 New Orleans tornado outbreak have further devastated communities. I arrived with no expectations, only a mindset focused on learning about the local culture and the specific needs of the people. I sought to understand how hurricanes and other disasters affect both the built environment and the natural landscape, and what steps could be taken to prevent future catastrophes. As I learned more about the lasting impacts of hurricanes on NOLA from a LSU Marine Biology Professor, I realized recovery wasn’t just about rebuilding homes; it was also about protecting the environment. One of the most critical defenses against future storms lies in the marshes, which serve as natural storm barriers while also preventing pollution. Building hurricane-resistant housing for disaster survivors with the Saint Bernard Project The marshes of NOLA are crucial for sustaining the land where people live and also for preventing pollution from reaching the ocean. The Mississippi River, which collects water from 31 states, plays a vital role in supplying sediment-rich nutrients to these marshes. It’s quite a reach for one river. Since the Mississippi is also a major trade route, city planners built levees to control its flow, whereas previously, the river’s path would shift naturally over time. While the levees protect cities from flooding, they also block essential sediment from reaching the marshes. Along with damage due to sediment loss, over the last 25 years on average, Louisiana’s marshes have lost about a football field’s worth of land every hour, making marsh protection more important than ever. The question that often arises is: Why protect the marshes? First, if they disappear, many neighborhoods and communities will be forced to relocate due to land loss. Some communities have already been moved because the city can no longer maintain their roads. Second, marshes help prevent pollution. The Mississippi River carries fertilizers that flow downstream. The trees and plants within the marshes trap these nitrates, stopping them from entering the ocean and preventing pollution in the Gulf. Without this natural filtration, local fish populations could suffer, impacting the large fishing industry that depends on them. Most importantly, marshes protect against hurricanes, serving as a natural buffer against storm surges and high winds. With climate change fueling stronger, more frequent hurricanes, marshes are one of the last lines of defense for coastal communities. The loss of marshland means greater vulnerability to storms, increasing the risk of flooding and destruction. Understanding this connection between hurricane mitigation and marshes became even more apparent when our group got incredibly lucky. One of our chaperones had a brother who did research at the LSU Center for River Studies, so we had the rare opportunity to visit the facility. Seeing the massive Mississippi River model firsthand gave us insight into how sediment transport, levees, and marsh erosion impact hurricane resilience, deepening our appreciation for the importance of coastal protection. LSU’s Lower Mississippi River Physical Model. Photo by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority ( CPRA ) Many efforts are underway to preserve and restore the marshes. Advanced technology is being developed to visually monitor rivers using AI , detecting bands of visible light that indicate different sediment levels. This method is far more effective than older in-water sensors, which are expensive and difficult to maintain. AI-driven satellite imagery allows broader, real-time monitoring, making research more accessible despite funding cuts. In addition to sediment tracking, active recovery efforts are taking place. In certain areas, dredging is being used to reroute the river, delivering much-needed sediment to struggling marshes. Walking away from this trip, I realized recovery is about understanding the bigger picture: how the land, water, and people all rely on each other to survive. The marshes might not look like much, but they’re the unsung heroes of coastal protection, shielding homes, roads, and entire communities from the worst of the storms. Without them, NOLA is left wide open for whatever chaos the next hurricane brings. Fixing a city isn’t only about rebuilding what’s broken. It’s about protecting what’s still standing, like the marshes and the neighborhoods they safeguard, because without action, even they won’t last. Back home in Los Altos, I don’t worry about hurricanes tearing through my street or the land literally disappearing into the ocean. But this trip made me realize that just because a problem isn’t right in front of me doesn’t mean it’s not mine to care about. The marshes may not be my backyard, but the fight to protect them is one that affects all of us. And I’m not about to sit back and let them vanish.

A Tree Talk with Nikki Hanson GreenTown hosted the Native Tree Talk for the first time (June 1st, 2025) in the Google Gradient Canopy Huddle Room. It was a fitting space as we prepared for a native plant and tree tour around the building. Nikki Hanson, Native Plant Landscape Ecologist, led us on a thoughtful journey exploring “Trees in Our Neighborhoods” challenging our assumptions about the familiar trees around us and shining a light on the often overlooked native species that support local ecosystems. Through engaging visuals and surprising stats, Nikki revealed that many of the most common trees in urban areas are not native and more importantly, they don’t support local biodiversity the way native trees do. Her talk illustrated just how many insects (yes, the good kind!) a single native tree can support critical food sources for insects, birds, and beyond. The green space was vibrant, fully thriving around the Google campus—monarch butterflies, bees, lizards, and birds—all depending on native trees and plants. Did you miss the talk? View her full presentation Download the handout about sudden oak syndrome

At GreenTown Los Altos, we aim to highlight local businesses that are making a difference in their community. Our eating-green lead, Cary Anderson, recently interviewed a local couple who own and run the only 100% plant-based bakery in the area. Photo by Jen Lo Photography Wendy Chan and Keith Johnsgard are partners in life and baking. A strong sense of community, family values and a passion for plant-based baking led to the opening of their baking project, Tai Zhan bakery in Saratoga. Prior to opening their store in late 2023, Tai Zhan started in 2018 as a pop-up business. They quickly built an impeccable reputation for quality and variety of Asian-inspired and other baked goods, rivaling any non-plant-based bakery. Honoring Wendy’s family, Tai Zhan was the name of Wendy’s grandparent’s former butcher shop in Hong Kong. While Wendy and Keith juggle second careers and two children, the closeness of family extends to participation by Wendy’s mom and Keith’s brother, who taste-test and help run the bakery. At her Saratoga bakery, Wendy Chan points out her Hong Kong family storefront, also named Tai Zhan. With an impressive background in commercial baking, Wendy decided to share her sweet and savory baked recipes, using only plant-based ingredients. On her own and no longer limited to using the standard butter and egg portions that people expect from non-plant-based recipes, Wendy created multiple butter and egg substitutes tailored to each recipe. The result is a more refined, subtle and satisfying baked good than you may find from traditional bakeries. If you are looking for a slightly less sweet and more artisan take on some of your favorite recipes, Tai Zhan fits the bill. For example, Tai Zhan’s Eggless Tart looks like the egg tart you’ve seen at Chinese bakeries. So, you have that interesting point of reference, but Wendy isn’t trying to mimic the flavor; she’s creating an entirely new taste experience, with the simple goal of making it tasty while touching on nostalgic notes. This approach is a direct contrast to traditional bakeries that attempt to satisfy plant-based customers by substituting off-the-shelf plant-based ingredients with the goal of closely mimicking their non-plant-based product. Nothing is “off the shelf” at Tai Zhan. Incorporating a true hand-crafted, artisan approach into each recipe, Wendy still “touches the dough” on every baked good to make sure it meets her standard. The recipes are regularly modified to create new flavor and texture profiles so that customers are surprised each week with something new to try. In fact, unlike most bakeries that have 2-3 “greatest hits”, Wendy says their top sellers are the “specials” each Saturday. That said, you can reliably find most of the same treats each week, many of which are artisan takes on Asian pastries, plus Wendy’s take on traditional “western” bakery items such as chocolate chip cookies, pizza focaccia, croissants and cakes. If you plan to give Tai Zhan a try, plan to come early — there is generally a line waiting to get in when it opens. There’s no seating inside, so plan to take your food home or to enjoy at one of the many coffee shops or outdoor seating areas within walking distance in downtown Saratoga. Tai Zhan is located at 14572 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA. Open Friday and Saturday from 11 AM-3 PM. For catering, contact Wendy and Keith via their website portal at taizhanbake.com. On a recent visit to Tai Zhan, Wendy and Keith shared insights on their journey so far: Cary Anderson from GreenTown Los Altos, meets Tai Zhan's Wendy Chan and Keith Johnsgard to discuss their plant-based business What are some of the challenges of baking in a plant-based only environment versus traditional bakeries? Wendy : After being vegan for 14 years while baking in a commercial environment where certain ingredients were expected to be used for specific baked good, I actually feel I have more freedom than ever. My baking now is more aligned with my beliefs and what I always wanted to do, my creativity more endless, allowing me to explore what creates the best and most interesting result, not necessarily what was expected. For example, in the commercial baking environment, it wasn’t as inventive in that way as we “had” to use eggs and standard dairy butter, whereas now I am free to create more interesting textures and tastes without the expectation that it tastes a certain way. Do you aim to mimic the traditional baked items from your youth? Wendy : I definitely started that way. I grew up with Hong Kong pastries and, my family being Cantonese, I’d go back to Hong Kong each summer and enjoy that, so I wanted the nostalgia of eating the treats from my youth. I still want to create things that touch me nostalgically. That said, some people could comment that I don’t create exactly the same pastry they are used to. My pastries won’t have the same flavor that you taste from having dairy butter in a recipe. It’s just different. But for people who have certain allergies, I’m able to give them that nostalgia and connect with the tradition of some recipes that have existed for many generations. I’ve also created different treats that push past that nostalgia and combine things that I love such as jellies and cakes that I had not done before. My parents are the first taste testers. They aren’t vegan. The pastries must pass the test that anyone would like it, no matter what their diet is. Now that you have a “brick and mortar” store and recently started to be open two days a week, what are your goals for the business? Wendy : In terms of goals, our mission is that we still want to just create extraordinary treats for everyone who can’t go to a traditional bakery while also inspiring people to question the current life patterns of consumption. We hope to get people to consider that it’s possible that they don’t need to consume milk and eggs and it will taste good and become something they can do at home. Keith : Although we’d been doing popups, working on this and dreaming for a long time, we found the opportunity to open the Saratoga store just by the good fortune of driving by it regularly and inquiring about the open space. At that time, we were at a crossroads about what to do with the business. The store became an organic growth of what we had been doing, and we had so much support from our customers to take this next step. We started just opening on Saturday, but we’d quickly sell out. We can only produce so much each day in this kitchen, so we recently opened on Friday too. We have small kids who we prioritize, and part-time jobs too, so adding Friday made the most sense for us. What are your most popular pastries? Wendy : It varies from week to week. We make seasonal pastries and each week, depending on my whim from week to week, I look to create specials for Saturday, and the specials are the most popular. Right now, we have strawberry cream that’s popular. Our passion whip with fresh sliced mango is really popular right now, but it could be totally different from week to week. From where do you draw inspiration for your baking ? Keith : At this point, Wendy can look at any non-plant-based recipe and quickly understand how to use it for inspiration and calculate how she would convert to plant-based and modify it to her liking. It’s really amazing. Wendy : I spend time at the library with my sons, and I’ll research a ton of books and online, a combination of Asian and other countries' recipes, just constantly looking for inspiration. I really draw inspiration from everywhere. Do you have a target demographic, given that plant-based businesses can be seen as “niche”? Wendy : No. We are creators and bakers, not businesspeople. We are just here to create great food, and what is aligned with our values. We don’t push our values on other people; we hope to simply provide an offering people will enjoy.

On May 4th, GreenTown Los Altos along with other community leaders hosted the inaugural Living Electric Fair in the Village of Los Altos. Over 35 exhibitors featured electric solutions for the home, cutting edge EVs, waste reducing ideas and hands’ on environmentally themed games. The event, drawing an estimated 1,200 people, featured solutions across four different zones: Electric, Transportation, Zero Waste and Family Discovery. The fair was designed to satisfy both novice and expert alike. One could learn the basics about composting, climate change and how to go about replacing gas appliances with electric alternatives. A virtual reality tour outlined elements of a home that bring cleaner and more comfortable living. Experts offered details for avoiding electrical panel upgrades through load balancing solutions. Heat pump, solar, battery and electric fireplace solutions were among other exhibitors featured. Big attractions included Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s Dream Home , an all-electric tiny home powered by the battery of a Ford F150 . Crowds flocked to preorder the newly announced Telo , all-electric mini truck for urban living. If you missed the event, you can find the list of exhibitors here for more information. Thank you to our sponsors and co-hosts: The City of Los Altos, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Anne Wojcicki Foundation,Acterra, Right On! Refillery, Rotary Club of Los Altos, Los Altos Village Association, State Street Market . Links mentioned int the article: LIST OF EXHIBITORS EVENT WEBSITE

So far this school year, GreenTown Los Altos has supported and participated in several Walk or Wheel! (WoW!) events at local schools, working with PTA representatives to encourage students to walk or bike to school instead of arriving by car. WoW! events help remind kids and their families about the benefits of WoW!ing (walking or wheeling) to school, how to do so safely, and just how fun it can be! There are lots of reasons to WoW! to school and here are just a few: It's really good for the planet.  Transportation, primarily in fossil-fuel powered cars, accounts for more than half of Los Altos' and Los Altos Hills' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Walking or biking to school directly contributes to reducing our communities' impacts on climate change. Plus, it results in fewer toxic air emissions in the parking drop-off areas of our schools and in our communities.  It reduces traffic around schools. Parents notice this on WoW! days, and it makes it safer for our kids to bike and walk. That's a win-win. It's good for the body and mind.  Biking and walking to school considerably increases concentration during school hours, according to a Danish study  of nearly 20,000 students. And it's fun, too! Walking and biking are simply fun ways to get to school and connect with friends and family. Plus, Los Altos' flat geography and mild climate make it ideal for walking and biking all year round. Our programs to encourage walking and biking have had a significant impact on student behavior. The number of students using alternative modes for school has increased considerably since we started this work in 2009. Most schools now have a WoW! (or Traffic Safety) coordinator on the PTA and share GreenTown's vision of more kids walking and biking to school. And it's paying dividends with older students, too. Over the years, more and more bike racks have been added at Los Altos High School owing to an increase in student demand.  Here's a snapshot of the elementary schools we are working with. Please email us at info@greentownlosaltos.org to let us know if you'd like to connect and build a WoW! program at your school. Gardner Bullis Elementary 's WoW! Co-Chairs, Nick and Melissa French, do an amazing job engaging kids in walking and biking at their WoW! events. These high-energy events, replete with a finish line, a treats table, and, of course, the GreenTown blender bike, result in kids that are truly thrilled to have walked or biked to school. Participation in these events is over the top with some classrooms boasting more than 90% of kids walking and biking to school. Oak Avenue Elementary School 's Principal Nikita Shah rolls up her shirtsleeves, along with several parent volunteers, to get the kids excited about WoW!ing to school. Students from one grade have the privilege of tallying which grade participated the most during Oak's WoW! days. On our most recent visit to Oak, the cold January day didn't stop the intrepid students from biking or walking, although they appreciated the hot cocoa that GreenTown brought that day! GreenTown also works with Almond Elementary, which regularly holds two WoW! events - one on Walk to School Day in October and the other around Bike to School Day in May. For Almond's Walk to School Day WoW!, GreenTown brought out the blender bike and the Almond Eagle mascot took pictures with the kids. One Almond parent commented that there are noticeably fewer cars on WoW! days. More kids biking and walking means less traffic congestion at school, and less traffic congestion means greater safety for our kids! Bullis Charter School runs a monthly WoW! event at each campus. GreenTown supplies them with stickers and pencils to incentivize kids who walk or bike to school, and they consistently count each student who WoW!s to school.  Springer Elementary  is just launching its WoW! program, spearheaded by GreenTown's newest Board member, Madhuri Davidson. We're looking forward to getting Springer students excited about walking and biking this Spring! Learn more about the WoW! program If you would like to learn more about the WoW! program and how to make it work at your school, contact us at info@greentownlosaltos.org .

Please join us in welcoming Laura Teksler and Madhuri Davidson to the GreenTown board. We are excited to have them as part of our team and look forward to their expertise and contribution to our community and efforts! Laura Teksler Laura first became involved with GreenTown as the Almond parent lead for the Walk or Wheel (WoW) program over a decade ago. She is a life-long environmentalist and lover of the outdoors who has dedicated her paid and volunteer careers to sustainability efforts. Recently through her work on the Los Altos Environmental Commission and Acterra she has become an advocate for home electrification. Madhuri Davidson Madhuri has been a volunteer in many of GreenTown's conservation projects. Recently, she has taken on a pivotal role, working alongside Jana to maintain, update, and clean up our membership database. Madhuri is a Living Classroom Docent at Springer Elementary where her two children are students. She is also working with GreenTown and the City to revive the WoW program and Safe Routes to School education program at Springer Elementary!

Angelo DeGiuli, a long-time volunteer for local environmental causes, was awarded this year's Environmental Hero Award at the annual GreenTown Los Altos Fundraiser and Celebration on Friday October 4th at the Los Altos History Museum. Lauded for his enduring environmental volunteerism that spans over a decade with GreenTown, Angelo, along with his wife, Nuchi, have been consistent, hands on contributors to numerous GreenTown programs. In the early days, Angelo was active in GreenTown's Zero Waste Program reducing plastic straw use from downtown merchants. Today, he manages the Party-pack Loaner Program which offers reusable party packs residents can borrow to reduce the waste of single use products. Angelo is a frequent trash pick-up volunteer at the 280/Magdalena interchange adopted by GreenTown in the "Adopt-A-Highway" program. Highway Clean Up Lead, Kim Jelfs, observed she has "never seen someone so cheerful when picking up someone else's garbage." Angelo is involved in GreenTown's conservation efforts by having helped establish and maintain the Woodland Library native garden and participates in multiple creek clean ups a year. Recently, Angelo was instrumental in Citizen's Climate Lobby working with GreenTown Los Altos to form the Electrification Collaboration, a program designed to accelerate heat pump water heater adoption in Los Altos. Said DeGiuli of the honor, "I am truly honored and humbled. When I was a child, my mama, as we say in Italy, often reminded me that nature is the best thing we have in life. It was given to us so we can appreciate it and care for it. I've simply taken the chance given to me by great environmentalists who came before me to lend a helping hand." GreenTown's Celebration also featured two speakers: Sandra McGonagle, LASD Superintendent profiling the integrated envrionment lessons the district's students from K-8 experience along their education journey and various sustainability efforts made by the District. Aanya Dhruv, a student climate activist at Nueva Schooolk, enthusiastically described an envrionmental curriculum she developed for youth that is being used across many schools in the region and beyond. The Celebration was attended by more than 85 people including Mayor Jonathan Weinberg, Vice Mayor Pete Dalley, City Council Candidate Larry Lang and numerous other community leaders. If you missed this year's event, hope you'll join us next year!