What do Usher, Mike Tyson, and Brainfood’s beet cupcakes have in common?

I’ll give you a hint: they also share this common theme with Bill Clinton and Ellen Degeneres.

Stumped? I discovered the answer to through my preparation work for the start of summer programs. So before I give it away, I should explain: As the Garden Manager, I am fortunate to have a dynamic position that allows me the opportunity to collaborate with all of the Brainfood staff when I am not weeding and harvesting outside in the garden. Seedling Alley, where we start our seeds that will eventually be transplanted into the garden, is located downstairs in the kitchen. Which puts me in prime position for taste-testing Francisco’s new recipes for Homegrown! Blanching and freezing and drying garden harvests also keep me busy in the kitchen, recipe testing side-by-side with program staff. When I need to do office work, I share an office with our Box Project teachers and programs director, the perfect crew for brainstorming how to make use of our overabundance of lemon balm and swiss chard stalks. And this summer, I get to work as part of the Summer Institute program team, our 6-week introductory program to teach life and leadership skills through cooking. This week we will be focusing on establishing a strong cooking skills base for our students, from measuring ingredients to learning a variety of techniques for cutting carrots. And with basic skill-building we also will be focusing on building a greater awareness of food cultures. Any new ideas how Usher might fit into my work?

Maybe it will help to zoom out a little and explain what drives what I do. My involvement in urban farming is motivated by the belief that growing food in the city is the perfect platform for addressing causes close to my heart, such as community empowerment, sustainable development, food access, joyful cooking, and environmental awareness. And outside of my work, I try to incorporate my values related to these causes in the food that I eat and share. Which leads me to Mike Tyson and beet cupcakes.

Usher, Mike Tyson, and our delicious beet cupcakes are all a part of vegan food culture, the theme of our fourth day of the Summer Institute program this summer. 

After Usher’s father died of a heart attack, Usher was determined to become more intentional about his food choices as a means of taking charge of his personal health. Mike Tyson also made the transition to eating vegan as a means of embracing a healthier lifestyle after years of struggling with legal issues and drugs. And our beet cupcakes are just one opportunity for our students to learn that vegan can be delicious, and plant-based recipes can be more exciting than just salads. Nothing like cupcakes for a tasty introduction to an alternative food culture!

Stay tuned for updates as we develop our kitchen food cultures this summer!