Find out how a group of Girl Scouts took restaurant food waste to a new level!
Reimaging Kitchen Waste
Early in the fall, Girl Scouts worked with local muralist Amanda Koss to create watercolor art using pigment created from local farm-to-table restaurant food waste. Amanda was asked by Newlab Detroit’s Ecosphere Organics to participate in Ecosphere Organic’s Waste to Wonder program for the 2024 Detroit Month of Design.
“Ecosphere Organics utilizes food waste from local farm-to-table restaurants and turns it into other materials, and they offered me their products in powder form to create art,” explained Amanda. Amanda immediately thought about asking Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan to help.
It wasn’t her first time working with GSSEM; she and some Girl Scouts completed a mural together over the summer at the Brewery Park Corporate campus parking structure.
Painting Process
Amanda and the girls spent an afternoon at Ecosphere Organics space at Newlab. Before getting their paint brushes wet, they were given a tour and detailed explanation of the mission and drive of Ecosphere Organics. Then the painting began!
Using pigments made from coffee grounds, lemon peels, bananas and other restaurant kitchen waste, the girls were instructed to paint circles on 4” x 4” square. The squares were then cut into quarters and each painter paired up two pieces with another painter’s pieces.
Artist Reception
Like the artists involved in the Waste to Wonder project, the Girl Scouts were invited to the artist reception a few weeks later.
During the event, they answered questions about their own art piece, while mingling with other artists, vendors and visionaries. They noshed on vegetarian refreshments and chatted with different businesses and organizations with an interest in combating food waste.
It didn’t take long for their unique collaborative artwork to catch the eye of Chef Johnny Prepolec, presenter and partner for Waste to Wonder and owner of Almechi in Royal Oak.
Turns out, Alchemi contributed the lemon peels that were turned into paint pigment the Girl Scouts used in their creation.
Alchemi put an offer in on the painting that evening.
Full Circle Kitchen Tour
Recently, artist Amanda Koss and Girl Scouts from Troops 89911 and 89607 brought the signed artwork to the restaurant.
While there, Chef Johnny took everyone on a behind-the-scenes tour. He explained why recycling food waste is so important and how they go about it.
Pointing to an empty space on a wall, Chef Johnny told the girls that’s where he’s going to hang their artwork.
A place where everyone can see and experience the beauty of Waste to Wonder.
You can check out the art in person at Alchemi, 215 S Main St, Royal Oak. Visit www.ecosphereorganics.com if you’re interested in learning more about food waste and what can be done about it.
