Dinner will be served, but first…

LET’S GET DIRTY

The Education Garden Project is a 10x20’ plot of land located within a community garden setting in one of Santa Barbara County’s most special urban communities. With the support of a generous donation of vegetation from Magdalena Magazine and Illuminate Film Festival’s green carpet experience, we launched the Spring/Summer 2024 design that featured California native plant species, organic edible produce, and potent pollinators.

WHAT WE DO

  • CULINARY NUTRITION CLASSES

    Healthy nutrition and food preparation taught in a playful atmosphere.

  • EVENT CATERING

    Available for small gatherings, wellness retreats, and conscious festival experiences.

  • CUSTOM NUTRITION PACKAGES

    Evidence-based and intuitively-guided menus crafted to support performance goals.

  • DINING EXPERIENCES

    Full artistic menu design brought to life through guided visualization meditations.

OUR INSPIRATION

  • "Liberating our plates from industrial food is an act of reclaiming our bodies, our culture, and our land."

    -Vandana Shiva

  • "Food is more than sustenance; it is a means of transformation. By reclaiming our food traditions, we empower ourselves to heal, to connect with our ancestors, and to create a future where we are all nourished."

    -Bryant Terry

  • "Some people will tell you "Oh don't tell them everything", otherwise they'll be as good as I am. I never have that thought. I want them to be as good. I want them to understand what makes a recipe successful."

    -Madhur Jaffrey

  • "The liberation of food is the liberation of people."

    -Alice Waters

  • "To be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair convincing. In food systems, that means creating pathways to self-sufficiency and sovereignty."

    -Raj Patel

  • "Food justice is not just about feeding the hungry; it's about empowering communities and creating lasting change."

    -Leah Penniman

  • "Food sovereignty is the right of people to define their own food systems."

    -La Via Campesina

  • "The future of food begins with sovereignty, the first crucial step towards initiating a better food system."

    Maya Amadi

SANKOFA APPROACH

“A Rooted-in-Sankofa approach to food security and sovereignty anchors past tradition into present awareness to create a thriving future for earth and humans.”

-Chef Maya Amadi, Sankofa School of Intuitive Culinary Arts

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

We prioritize purchasing locally-sourced, plant-forward ingredients and eco-conscious cooking techniques to minimize environmental impact.

NUTRITIONAL DENSITY

We embrace a mindful approach to increasing nutrient density in meals, prioritizing a diverse range of whole food ingredients that nourish body and soil.

EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION

We empower home chefs through intuitive menu guides and home gardening education, fostering self-sufficiency and community resilience.

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

We believe that the art of play is a crucial part to every culinary and garden planning experience, encouraging bright colors, geometric patterns, and coloring outside the plate at every moment possible.

CULTURAL AWARENESS

We celebrate diversity and promote cultural competency through globally-informed menu design, exploring human living conditions, and highlighting indigenous farming practices worldwide.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

We support local economies, promote food sovereignty, and nurture regenerative food systems through ethical ingredient sourcing, community gardening, and volunteering with food distributors working to end food scarcity.

Upcoming Course: February 2025

We will be working through the High-Protein Plant-Based Diet for Beginners as a course guide, learning and applying principles of a regenerative, whole-foods approach to meal planning. Diverse dietary styles will be accommodated in learning objectives.

This self-guided introductory course and guidebook is designed to education, inspire, and empower individuals to take an active role in promoting food security and sovereignty. PATHWAYS INCLUDE:

Nutrition Education - Participants will gain the foundational knowledge needed to make informed food selections.

Recipe & Menu Design - Participants will unlock their intuitive access to optimal food combining and preparation methodologies.

Food Production - Participants will become activated earth stewards through growing their own produce, either in a home-based or community garden setting.

Clients Say:

  • "The chicken and rice was celestial!!! Your love and genius was felt!!"

    #EventCatering

  • “You have been SUCH an incredible support for us in this postpartum time and I have grown a bit spoiled knowing that you’re coming over and teeing up a couple of dinners a week for me!”

    #FamilyMealPrep

  • "Maya, every single flavor that you cook and create is my body's favorite thing to taste and receive. It's like you've gone into the deepest depths of my dreams and my soul."

    #RitualDinner