Earth and Arbor Day 2024 - Rooted in Our Environment

The City's Earth and Arbor Day are combining this year for a Celebration bigger and more fun than ever Saturday April 20 starting at 10 a.m.!

• See the event page for all the fun hands-on activities for all ages for you to enjoy,
• Enter our Photo Contest with sustainable prizes leading up to the event,
• Considering switching to an Electric Vehicle but want more information? Hear the latest at our EV 101 virtual session Saturday April 13 at 10 a.m., and
• Test drive an electric vehicle at the Celebration in between climbing the rock wall and planting edible seedlings to take home!

New Plant-Based Recipes

Quarterly Recipe: Winter!

We’re right in the middle of cozy season. Here’s a plant based slow cooker recipe to warm you up, care of Six Vegan Sisters(External link). Pair with a grain like quinoa or rice for a hearty lunch or dinner.

Slow Cooker Peanut Tofu and Broccoli

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz) block extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
• Photo from Six Vegan Sister1 tsp olive oil optional, for sautéing
• 1 head (about 5 cups chopped) broccoli
• 1/2 cup coconut milk, full fat preferred
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp agave or maple syrup
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 3 Tbsp water
• green onion for topping
• sesame seeds for topping

Instructions

1. Chop tofu into roughly 1-inch pieces. Optional for crispier tofu: If preferred, sauté the tofu in 1 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat until lightly crispy on all sides.
2. Chop broccoli into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
3. Add to your slow cooker coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, rice vinegar, and agave (or maple syrup).
4. Whisk all ingredients together and add the cubed tofu.
5. Cover and cook on low. Set timer for 2 hours (Note: you will have to add the broccoli and cornstarch slurry after 1 hour 15 minutes, and open to stir 20 minutes after that)
6. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water and whisk well. With 45-minutes left on the timer, add the cornstarch slurry and chopped broccoli. Mix well, scraping peanut butter sauce off sides if stuck.
7. With 25-minutes remaining, open and stir one last time.
8. Serve over rice, quinoa, or your favorite grain. Top with green onions, sesame seeds, and more chili garlic sauce, if preferred.

Ginger Pear Jam

If you missed our Jam Making Workshop in December, here is the recipe of the delicious Ginger Pear Jam we made. You can make this recipe without canning for fresh homemade jam, or make and preserve it for up to a year using canning equipment.

Ingredients

• 4 Cups finely chopped cored and peeled Bartlett Pears
• 3 Tbsp Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1 Box powdered pectin (1.75 oz)
• 5 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1-2 Tbsp crystalized ginger

Instructions

• If Canning: Prepare canning jars and lids by sterilizing

1. In an 8-quart stainless steel stockpot, combine pears and lemon juice.
2. In a small bowl combine pectin and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Stir into fruit.
3. Bring to a full rolling boil (a boil that does not stop when stirred), stirring constantly.
4. Gradually stir in the remaining sugar.
5. Return to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1. Minute.
6. Add 1 - 2 Tbsp finely chopped crystalized ginger
7. Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Let cool in the pot for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

• If Canning: Ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and threads with a clean damp cloth. Center sterilized lids on jars and screw on bands until tight.
• If Canning: Process 12 minutes for 4 oz jars and 18 minutes for 8 ounce jars*

*Times are for steam canner; water bath processing time may differ.

Send your favorite recipe or plant-based eating tip, including a photo to sustainaility@mountainview.gov and it could be featured here.

Find Connor's Fall Stuffed Acorn Squash, Hemali's Summer Cabbage Salad and more recipes at CollaborateMV!

Newsletters

Our quarterly Sustainability Newsletter includes news, program updates, rebates, and upcoming events. Sign up for our newsletter, and find previous newsletters on our archives page.

Recent News & Upcoming Events

The Sustainability Division has a new Facebook page! "Like" and "Follow" us at facebook.com/MVSustainability

The City of Mountain View's Sustainability Division has a new home on Facebook! "Like" and "Follow" our page for news, events, rebates, plant-based eating tips, Sustainable Sequoia and more! (July 2023).

Electric Yard Care Equipment: A Cleaner, Quieter Choice for Residents and Businesses (Spring 2023)

By Whitney Ramos, Sustainability Outreach and Engagement

The City of Mountain View’s downtown Park Maintenance team has been using electric lawn mowers and leaf blowers to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of our downtown for years. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Eric, Andrew, and Griffin, three members of the team, who shared their experiences working with electric equipment compared to gas-powered tools.

One of the most significant advantages of electric equipment is that it is quieter and more convenient. Electric equipment produces less noise, making it ideal for use in neighborhoods and City parks. It’s quiet enough that the maintenance team can start work earlier than they could with gas-powered equipment, which is prohibited from use before 7a.m. due to noise regulations.

And here’s what makes electric equipment so convenient:

• Unlike gas-powered equipment, there is no need to bring gas or mix fuels, which not only saves time and money but also eliminates the hassle and mess of handling gas.
• Start buttons are easy for anyone, compared with pull-start equipment.
• Less maintenance required, saving the owner both time and money.
• Electric lawn mowers can also be much lighter than the alternative gas-powered versions making them easier to handle when working on hills and inclines.

Using electric equipment is not only a better choice for the maintenance team but also for residents and businesses. Electric equipment doesn’t produce local emissions that the user breathes and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to gas-powered equipment. Electric leaf blowers and lawn mowers are perfect for the small spaces commonly found around homes and in small businesses, and with incentives for both residents and businesses, now is a great time to buy!

• Silicon Valley Clean Energy is offering $50 off electric lawn mowers and electric leaf blowers, check out the options on their Appliances Assistant tool.
• The California Air Resources Board is offering California CORE program (“Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project”), including $14 million in incentives left for professional landscapers (as of 4-18-23).
• As always keep an eye on our residential and professional rebates and resources pages!

Earth Day Celebration Recap- Sat. April 22, 2023

The City of Mountain View’s annual Earth Day Celebration was a successful and energetic gathering, focusing on “Building Our Brighter Future” and taking action in all areas of sustainability.

Attendees learned about the important work being done in our community and discovered ways they could get involved, by engaging with 26 community-serving organizations, including 10 City departments, divisions, and programs. The Earth Day Celebration also included:

• Electric vehicle “Ride or Drive” featuring 5 electric vehicle models, which 75 attendees tried out
• Zero-waste, plant-based lunches
• Presentations on the topics of clean energy, recycling and zero waste, sustainable food systems, and biodiversity
• Outdoor games, activities, and shade to enjoy the beautiful spring day
• Photo booth, giving an electronic keepsake photo for anyone who wanted one
• Native plant potting and seed giveaways
• 5 community members winning our raffle prizes (everyone who attended and participated was entered into the drawing)
• Bike repair or adjustment station
• Approximately 500 community members coming together to learn and be inspired to continue, “Building our Brighter Future.”

We appreciate everyone who attended, worked, volunteered, and otherwise contributed to the City’s Earth Day Celebration’s success! 

Mountain View Awarded two SVCE Decarbonization Grants

The City of Mountain won grant funds from Silicon Valley Clean Energy, totaling $567,000 for two decarbonization projects!

The first grant provides $497,000 to electrify the City’s Senior Center, converting the water heaters and kitchen to all-electric systems. This project will use the City’s facility as an example electrification project, while serving the 150 seniors who utilize the facility daily.

The second grant provides $70,000 to engage the community and local organizations in the co-development of building electrification outreach and engagement strategies. The City will engage with communities that speak languages other than English, renters, and other traditionally underserved populations to advance building electrification as a community.

Planning for the two projects began in early 2023.