Pumpkin Party! Free pumpkins for kids

Oct3

Pumpkin Party 2025
@Joe Taylor Park
Saturday October 18, 2025, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Join Friends of Grand Rapids Parks  at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for Friends’ annual Pumpkin Party and enjoy family-friendly activities, including:

  • Free Pumpkins* for Kids
  • Free Trees* for Adults
  • Kids activities – Cider & Donuts

While you’re there buy fresh Produce from New City Neighbors and others.

This is a free event and is first come, first served. In the event of inclement weather, check out Friends’ r Facebook Page for an alternate location!

https://friendsofgrparks.org/event/pumpkin-party-2025/Join Friends of Grand Rapids Parks  at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for Friends’ annual Pumpkin Party and enjoy family-friendly activities, including:

Free Pumpkins* for Kids – Free Trees* for Adults – Kids activities – Cider & Donuts

And buy fresh Produce from New City Neighbors and others.

 This is a free event and is first come, first served. In the event of inclement weather, check out Friends’ r Facebook Page for an alternate location!

Pumpkin Party 2025

Pumpkin Party 2025 @Joe Taylor Park,October 18, 2025, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Join Friends of Grand Rapids Parks  at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for Friends’ annual Pumpkin Party and enjoy family-friendly activities, including:

Free Pumpkins* for Kids – Free Trees* for Adults – Kids activities – Cider & Donuts

And buy fresh Produce from New City Neighbors and others.

 This is a free event and is first come, first served. In the event of inclement weather, check out Friends’ r Facebook Page for an alternate location!

Pumpkin Party 2025

Southeast Area Farmers Market Sept. 6

Sep4

Thank you, community partners!
Sept. 6 community partner: Grand Rapids Pit Bull Alliance

Community partners are a big part of the Southeast Area Farmers Market. In August, some of those partners gave 100 backpacks away to school kids and offered a free yoga class. Past partners have included the Grand Rapids Public Library, Healthy Homes, Grand Rapids Fire Department, and Planned Parenthood. In October, we are looking forward to co-hosting the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks Pumpkin Party. Community partners are always welcome at the market. If your organization would like to share information and resources this month or next, email SEAFM@OKTjustice.org.  

Our Sept. 6 community partner is the Grand Rapids Pit Bull Alliance. Look at all they have to offer! Stop by and chat with them if your dog has any needs, such as pet food, veterinary care, vaccines, behavior training, or rehoming.

While you’re at the market, be sure to stock up on fresh local produce from New City farm and other vendors! The market warmly welcomes SNAP and other food assistance programs.

The market takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Joe Taylor Park.

School gardens are producing

Aug7

In addition to helping at the farmers market, Kevon Hess and Belinda Henderson oversee OKT’s food garden programs at homes and schools. Looks like families are going to have some good food this week!

Southeast Area Farmers Market Saturday August. 9

Aug4

Please shop the market Aug. 9 & 23!

Fatima Lee, New City Farm

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market was held twice in July. We are sad to say we had very few shoppers. We believe this is because the market has moved from MLK Park, located at the busy intersections of Fuller, Hall and Franklin, to Joe Taylor Park, which is tucked within a residential neighborhood between two one-way streets. 

Our fabulous produce anchor New City Farm has a nice selection of freshly picked, local produce to choose from — and they accept SNAP. You are not going to find any produce more chock full of nutrients that this! And you’ll love the prices. If you’ve shopped the SEAFM before, you’ll run into other familiar faces among the vendors, as well.

Friendly faces and healthy food

Kevon Hess and Belinda Henderson are always on hand to help vendors and patrons at the farmers market. But you never know who else you might run into.

At the July 26 Market, Ms. Yvonne, who has been a SEAFM vendor since it began and Stelle Slootmaker, OKT’s communications manager since 2010, were thrilled to run into Sheri Munsell, who was a fabulous part of the OKT team when we were just starting out. They all had fun catching up.

Sheri has gone on to found the Hope Gain Network and works with many nonprofits in the Grand Rapids area.

L – R: Yvonne Woodard, Sheri Munsell, and Stelle Slootmaker

Black Impact Collaborative presents “The Black Experience”

Jul28

Friday, August 1, 2025, through Saturday, August 2, 2025 at GRPS University Campus, 1400 Fuller St NE, GR 49505. 

The Black Impact Collaborative is proud to again host “The Black Experience” which will focus on spreading “Black Joy” and the illumination of information across the Health & Well-Being, Education, Economic Security, Communication, and Elder Support impact areas that will ultimately elevate the experience of Black people in Greater Grand Rapids, MI. Some of the features of The Black Experience include a business expo and exhibits, local and national plenary, workshop speakers, an all-Black Attire Party, live entertainment, food and much more!

The Black Experience will kick-off with an all-Black Attire Party at GRPS University Campus, 1400 Fuller St NE, GR 49505.  on Friday, August 1 from 7:00-10:30PM. It will feature the live band For Your Soul Entertainment, Host Comedian Gregory Morris, food and drinks, best dress contest, prizes & more! On Saturday August 2 you can expect to attend workshops with National and Local Speakers such as Maggie Anderson, JD., Author of Our Black Year, hear from local Black-led organizations, Gubernatorial Candidates running for Michigan office, Kids’ Corner Activities, Premier Vendor Expo, Music, Food & more.

“Our primary goal of the Black Experience is to cultivate community healing in the black community by promoting intellectual, cultural, and thoughtful leadership and innovation in the areas of education, economics, health and well-being, serving our elders, and ensuring protection,” says Board Chair, Dallas Lenear. We can let you know that this will be a Family-friendly weekend for not only for Black Greater Grand Rapids, but for everyone. However, we know that it is essential that we elevate Black Joy – things that inspire, supports and uplifts Black Culture. This is an event that will do that.

Be sure to come out for this family-friendly event that will be educational, empowering, engaging, entertaining, and exciting! For additional details you can view our event site at https://bicgr.com/the-black-experience/. You can also follow the Black Impact Collaborative Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/the411gr) to stay up to date! If you have any questions about the event you can call 616-888-8411, or email info@bicgr.com.

Southeast Area Farmers Market Saturday July 26 at Joe Taylor Park

Jul24

This Saturday July 26, come visit the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market for a wide variety of local produce, cottage kitchen foods, personal care items, crafts and ready-to-eat foods. The market accepts most food assistance programs. New City Farm, a program of New City Neighbors, is this year’s market produce anchor. You’ll love their fresh, chemical-free produce!

Here are the 2025 market dates:

August 9 & 23

September 6 & 20

October 4 & 18

Nov. 1 & 15

The 2025 market is a collaboration among OKT, New City Farm, and Baxter Community Center.

Healthy Homes sharing lead-reducing water kits at Saturdays Southeast Area Farmers Market

Jul9

Who: Healthy Homes
Where: Southeast Area Farmers Market @ Joe Taylor Park
When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday July 12

Healthy Homes will be at the Southeast Area Farmers Market this Saturday, July 12. Do you live in Grand Rapids’ 3rd ward and still connected to a lead water service line? Stop by for a free lead-reducing water kit from Healthy Homes. These kits are for residents of Grand Rapids’ 3rd ward who are still connected to a lead water service line.

A community-based nonprofit focused on reducing home environmental hazards in Kent County, Healthy Homes serves families and individuals with programming, education, and community conversations. Its vision is that all children grow up in safe and healthy homes. Healthy Homes helps reduce home hazards like:

Kent County Essential Needs Taskforce appeal

Jul1

Proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would strip away essential support from families, seniors, children, and many other individuals. Don’t stay silent. Contact your senators and representatives now and demand they protect these vital programs. It is crucial to ensure that the voices of those at risk are heard and uplifted at this time. Share this message, start the conversation, and push back against policies that threaten our community’s wellbeing.

Southeast Area Farmers Market opens July 12

Jun30

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market provides a wide variety of local produce, cottage kitchen foods, personal care items, crafts and ready-to-eat foods. Our vendors are primarily women of color, home growers and residents of OKT’s targeted neighborhoods. In addition to providing access to healthy food, the market hosts meal preparation activities, workshops and guests from community organizations. The market accepts most food assistance programs.

Welcome produce anchor New City Farm
New City Farm, a program of New City Neighbors, empowers youth through hands-on learning. The Farm grows on over four acres across three locations: a one-acre urban farm at 1115 Leonard St. NE; as partners with Grand Valley State University’s sustainability department on the Allendale campus; and two leased two acres at Plainsong Farm & Ministry in Rockford, MI. New City Farm will sell their fresh local produce at every Southeast Area Farmers Market this season. Produce not sold will be donated to Baxter Community Center’s Marketplace.

Welcome Baxter Community Center

OKT is thrilled to welcome Baxter Community Center as a partner in this year’s Southeast Area Farmers Market. Over the years, OKT has collaborated with Baxter on community events, bulk food orders, and healthy eating and cooking classes. In addition other its Marketplace, Baxter offers medical and dental services, a Child Development Center, and youth and adult programming.

Welcome Vendors!
If you would like to become a vendor, email SEAFM@OKTjustice.org for a Vendor Application Packet.

Welcome Community Organizations!
Schedule a date to table at the market and share your resources with our patrons.

The  Southeast Farmers Market is managed by Our Kitchen Table. Contact market manager Belinda Hendersen at SEAFM@OKTjustice.org.