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Interviews
Michael Stewart
by Stef McDonald
Michael Stewart, Partnerships Manager for
Carbon Fund,
works with businesses and organizations (including Greenopia) on carbon offset
strategies out of the group’s San Francisco office.
Best part of your job?
Seeing that a carbon emissions reduction strategy is moving to the forefront of business concerns for more mainstream companies. Seeing the personal interest at the highest levels of organizations is also very encouraging.
What is your favorite local green restaurant?There are lots of forward-thinking restaurants in SF, but I’m a street eater at heart so the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry building is up there for local and organic items. Plus, you meet the folks who put their life into it, like the cool guy from Bodega Goat Cheese who told me he even makes the wine for soaking the cheese rind.
Where do you shop for organic groceries?After surfing at Ocean Beach, I’ll hit the natural store co-op Other Avenues on Judah near 45th in the Sunset District to get yogurt pretzels and a cold Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing. The beer is not organic but the company buys wind power to support their energy efficient buildings, and they even generate some of their own electricity for operations, using the spent grain from the brewing process.
What are some of your favorite local green businesses?I got lucky enough to live and work in the Presidio of San Francisco, and there is a place called the Acre Café that serves as the default lunch spot for all the non-profit groups that work here. They use organic everything, sustainable meats from local Niman Ranch, and they offer compostable utensils and packaging. Rejelio, who runs the place, is a great guy and sometimes hooks me up with extra toast.
Is there a particular environmental non-profit you support?I’ve always lived within sight of saltwater, so the Surfrider Foundation is a constant for me because they are on the front lines of beach and water quality issues.
What’s your favorite thing about living in the city? Least favorite?The dramatic micro climates; and the dramatic micro climates! Super-fun when I’m wearing a down vest in August and the other side of town is sunny and happy.
What would you say is the city’s undiscovered or underrated jewel?Definitely the Presidio/a>.. I still meet city slickers here that only seem to have a vague idea that there is a national park within the city limits.
Where do you like to take out-of-town visitors?I give special guests the bike tour of all the back trails of the Presidio/a> and the Lands End area. I top it off with the wide-open ocean view from the old castle-like ruins of Aldolf Sutro’s pad, above the Cliff House restaurant at Ocean Beach, then drop down to get a chalet-made beer at the Beach Chalet, where the Golden Gate Park kisses the ocean.
What’s your favorite vacation destination?I like to head for the mountains for something totally different, so I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of all those flying saucers you hear about at Mt. Shasta this summer.
What’s your favorite weekend outdoor activity?Sleeping. A nice sunny bench or grassy hill outside spells n-a-p.
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?Coastal Cypress, hands-down. They lean back from the wind, always have a great view, and are stuck to the most impossible places on the sea cliff walls. They also get the most vivid bright orange algae growing on them.
Describe your path to green: how and when you became eco-conscious.It was instilled in me at a young age by lots of outdoor activities. Also, I used to live in Los Angeles and being stuck in L.A. traffic every day for a year gives you plenty of time to think of other possibilities for better living!
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