It took some time for Betty Lovie to convince her husband, Dick, that they should plant an apple orchard in the early 90's. Like many others in the Redwood Coast region, Dick had lost his job at the local pulp mill, and the Lovies were figuring out their next steps. Betty could not support both of them as a hairdresser. But an orchard?

"The kale chips are so delicate, it's like eating lace!" exclaims Gilroy's El Roble Elementary School kitchen supervisor, Jennifer Sanez. She is flitting around her kitchen while Sara Mendes and Stephanie Kennedy bake tray after tray of tasty, bright green, frilly kale chips for students. Sara and Stephanie are Health Corps members working with CAFF and area schools to implement monthly nutrition and local agriculture lessons, partly through conducting tastings.   Continue reading...