Portland residents Gabrielle and Thomas Chavez are dedicated solution seekers, undaunted when the problem they’re tackling is on an enormous – even global - level. From their shared skillset as chefs and their raw food, vegan background, the two have created The Climate Café, a pop-up organization seeking to literally change the world. “Like everybody, we’re looking for solutions to the looming climate disasters,” says Gabrielle. “We want to do that by offering people a taste of a way to eat that is life affirming and climate affirming.”

The Climate Café was founded in 2021 and is completely volunteer based. The menu is fixed, but different at every pop up event. The offerings are all always vegan, though not raw. The price is fixed as well – completely free of charge. Gabrielle is clear that the “pay what you will” model was a core prerogative of the venture, right from the start. “We want people to have a taste of a gift economy. We hope that so many people will want this that the people who can pay for it, will.” She smiles a bit as she reflects, “It’s been working.” Thomas jumps in and includes, “We live in an economic system where everything has a price. If we make it so everything has a value, without price…” he trails off and spreads his hands, indicating abundance.

The other foundational pillar of the Climate Café lies in intentional support of regenerative agriculture practices. “It’s the biggest factor on the climate that all of us can impact,” Gabrielle explains. “We’re big fans of farmers markets. I started meeting the farmers and asking them how they were growing – these are the people thinking about improving the soil.” The Climate Café sources all their ingredients from local farms adhering to regenerative practices, which are a mix of both ancient farming techniques and modern scientific understanding of soil, byproducts, crops, and the climate.

The Climate Café hosts a pop-up event about once a month, constantly moving around the city. The organization relies on local church kitchens for donated space, and then bring their goods to that neighborhood. Their events incorporate mindful eating practices, community sharing, and often include a program of sorts. “There’s no preaching,” Gabrielle clarifies – and then laughs, “well, we do preach about climate change.” Gabrielle and Thomas are clear that they want The Climate Café to be open to everyone. “We’ve worked with some militantly non-Christian young people. We really had to win their trust.”

The next Climate Cafe event will be held on Sunday, July 16 in Parkrose. All of the meals are seasonal, based on what the farmers are growing. “Every meal has been a huge success and a lot of fun and a lot of work. We have had thirty to eighty people at each.” Gabrielle acknowledges the huge disparity between preparing enough food for thirty people and preparing enough for eighty. “We always have enough, that’s the joy of it.”

This summer the organization is also focusing on sending Climate Healing Cards (postcards) to government bodies in charge of environmental regulations. The cards ask for action on behalf of the planet. Their goal is to encourage the community to send 500 cards or more before the end of the summer.

The Climate Café is supported by the Hillsdale Community Church, who also sponsors the farmers’ market. The church has offered their sponsor booth at the market to The Climate Café.  You can come meet them at this weekend’s market, talking to folks about their efforts and handing out Climate Healing Cards: “Each one is a conversation; each one is a commitment to doing some advocacy. It’s a lobbying effort on the side of nature," Gabrielle says. "[We are] the outgoing generation. We're working on a world we might never get to see.”