Archive by Author | oktable

Webinar “Farmers’ Markets in Low-Income Communities: Strategies & Best Practices”

Aug27

Thursday, August 29
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST

Across the country healthy food stakeholders are working to support farmers’ markets that increase access to healthy foods in low-income communities.

This webinar will discuss how incentive programs, retail strategies and policies are changing how consumers shop at farmers’ markets in their neighborhoods. Experts will share best practices and lessons learned from the field about how to implement programs to promote the sale of healthy food at these retail outlets.

Featured Speakers:

  • Mukethe Kawinzi, Project Coordinator, The Food Trust
  • Oran Hesterman, President/CEO, Fair Food Network
  • Jennifer O’Brien, Executive Director, Farmers Market Coalition

Register here.

You can also follow highlights from the conversation on Twitter @PolicyLink using #healthyfoodaccess.

Market vendor a veteran, former baseball pro and great grandfather

Aug23
The Price is right! Mr. Price selling Watkins at the farmers’ market.

The Price is right! Mr. Price selling Watkins at the farmers’ market.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is open to more than only food vendors. On any given market day, you might find handcrafted aprons and jump ropes, local artisan-made body care products or hand-crafted jewelry. One of this year’s new vendors, Roscoe Price, fills his market tables with Watkins products, including spices, extracts, oils, and seasonings. If you have shopped the Fulton Street farmers’ market, you may have seen him as he has been vending there for the past 20 years. In addition to selling Watkins, Mr. Price calls bingo at the senior living community where he and his wife now live.

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Price moved to Michigan more than 50 years ago to play baseball after a stint in the Marine Corps. He has been married to the same lovely woman for 60 years and counts six children, eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren as special blessings.

Mr. Price has much wisdom and many amazing stories to tell. Next time you are at the market, be sure to stop by his table and strike up a conversation. Now that the Michigan growing season is in full swing, you will also find a greater variety of fresh, locally grown produce at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market.

Market hours are Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Middle School and Friday Farm Stand 3 to 7 p.m. at Garfield Park. The market welcomes Debit Card, WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and Bridge Cards/SNAP. The market also participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program. When you buy your Michigan produce with your Bridge Card, you can receive $2 in purchase tokens for every $1 you spend, up to $20 each time you visit a farmers’ market.

Films for Action: La surconsummation

Aug15

cute_pig06This six-minute film raises awareness about our industrial food system’s exploitation of animals, including humans. Have you considered eliminating factory-farmed meat from your diet?

Warning: Contains mildly graphic images that may upset some people.

 

This entry was posted on August 15, 2013, in Policy.

GRAAHI offering 10 free admissions to the Rhythm Run

Aug13

Our Kitchen Table and the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market are proud supporters of the 2013 GRAAHI Rhythm Run 5k Run/Walk.Sponsored by the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) the run and walk take place 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., beginning at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (corner of Franklin Street and Fuller Avenue SE).

Today, Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) will provide 10 free admissions to the Rhythm Run! First come, First serve!

Email your contact information to stephanie.pierce@graahi.org. Click here to download and complete the registration form. You can email, fax (616) 331-5839, or hand deliver the form to the GRAAHI office no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, August 15, 2013. We are located at 515 Michigan St. N.E, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

The run’s goal is to celebrate health and fitness in the Grand Rapids African American Community. GRAAHI will award trophies and medals to the first and second place male and female winners in three age groups:

During the run and walk, GRAAHI is also providing refreshments, entertainment, games and opportunity for younger children to take part in a Kid’s Fun Run. Be sure to stop by the OKT table and say howdy, if you get a chance!

Aug. 19 Cook, Eat & Talk: Preparing an herbal medicine cabinet for winter wellness

Aug13

6 – 8 p.m. Monday August 19
Sherman Street Church
1000 Sherman St. SE, Grand Rapids

Join herbalist Lisa Rose Starner to discuss the benefits of using honey and garden herbs that can be used for year-round wellness and everyday ailments. Participants will be introduced to the traditional medicinal uses of honey and the plants —  tips on harvesting and making herbal preparations will be shared.

Infused Herbal Honey

Infusing honey is a very simple process. Gather herbs, flowers then add them to a jar. Then cover with honey and let infuse for at least a few weeks, taking the time to occasionally turn the jar upside down to stir up the plant material. Some herbs that work well in infused honey include: Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Jasmine, Orange flower, the invasive (and loved by me Honeysuckle), Lovage, Osha, Bee Balm (any Monarda), Vervain, Mint, Sage, Thyme, or Elderflower — these are just a few. Onion and garlic are also great choices and make for an excellent base for a cough and cold syrup. One can use fresh plant material in season, supermarket herbs and dry herbs (though will be less aromatic).

During the infusing process, because of its anti-microbial and preservative qualities, raw honey with the herbs will not rot in those several weeks of infusing — especially if stored in a cool, dark place.

Uses of infused honey: Infused honeys can be added to herbal teas or hot water with lemon to help support the body’s immune responses to illness and can also be eaten regularly as added immune support benefit (NOTE: eating honey is not a replacement for foundational immune strengthening — diet, exercise, stress reduction and sleep are core elements to staying healthy).  Infused honeys can also be bases for making herbal elixirs — I use mine to make my delicious Elderberry Elixir. It adds not only the medicinal power of the plants & honey, but a nice flavor profile to this important apothecary staple.

Additionally, both plain and infused raw honey can be used topically in wound and burn healing, It’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties can support the skin & membrane’s healing processes — it can also be used topically in instances of MRSA.

RUNNIN’ THE STREETS! Rhythm Run 5k August 17

Aug12

Our Kitchen Table and the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market are proud supporters of the 2013 GRAAHI Rhythm Run 5k Run/Walk. Sponsored by the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) the run and walk take place 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., beginning at Martin Luther King Jr. Park (corner of Franklin Street and Fuller Avenue SE).

The run’s goal is to celebrate health and fitness in the Grand Rapids African American Community. GRAAHI will award trophies and medals to the first and second place male and female winners in three age groups:

During the run and walk, GRAAHI is also providing refreshments, entertainment, games and opportunity for younger children to take part in a Kid’s Fun Run. Be sure to stop by the OKT table and say howdy, if you get a chance!

Registration is available online at rhythmrun.com/registration/ or at the GRAAHI office, 515 Michigan NE, Suite 102, Grand Rapids. Participants who register before August 16 pay $20. Later registration costs $25.  REACH grants are available for those who cannot afford the participation fee.