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OKT hosts Aug. 12 event: “Let’s talk Food Security & Sovereignty” with Special Guest, Mike Cohen

Aug10
IMG9527511

OKT’s Southeast Area Farmers’ Market addresses food insecurity n GR’s southeast neighborhoods. Photo: Drew Davis, OKT.

Garfield Park Lodge, 334 Burton SE 49507
Aug. 12 6:30 p.m.
Potluck & Discussion

Farmer and ecologist, Mark Cohen, an organic certifier and Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) chapter leader from Amesville, Ohio, will lead a discussion on food security and food sovereignty. He will speak to the what, why and how of developing regional food security and food sovereignty and provide information on forming local BFA Chapters focusing on the importance of food quality and nutrient dense food.

Mark Cohen has been working alongside other folks in Ohio for three years, organizing and setting up Mineral Depots, Grower Education, Consumer Education, Networking with Allied Organizations, and Food Quality Research. The Bionutrient Food Association is a national association of voting members who agree to uphold the mission of the organization and advocate for vital soils, nourishing food and healthy people. BFA partners with Grower Members to develop and implement practices that will improve food quality while making their operations more lucrative and sustainable. BFA helps consumers identify, advocate for and locate bionutrient food. BFA advocates to retailers and wholesalers for the preferential placement and promotion of bionutrient food. Finally, BFA empowers public and private policymakers and investors to support the shift from the century-long paradigm of factory farming to one in which quality food is profitable, ecologically sustainable, tastier, and equally available to all.

This series of talks is sponsored by OKT & the MI BFA Collective. They are working together as a collective for several Michigan BFA chapters to take hold in as many communities across the Great Lake State as possible.

FREE Mobile Food Pantry at LINC

Jul23

Thursday, July 23, 4 – 6pm @ the LINC Gallery, 341 Hall St. SE

LINC UP is collaborating with Feeding America West Michigan (FAWM) to host a FREE Mobile Food Pantry for  local community members this Thursday.The FAWM Mobile Pantry is like a farmer’s market on wheels, providing fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, & dietary staples straight to the community.  Each pantry provides about three days’ worth of supplemental food for 100-200 people. In addition, LINC is looking for volunteers to help run the event.  If you are interested in helping out, please contact Willie at the phone or email below. Questions?  Contact Willie Patterson at 616.451.9140 or willie@lincrev.org

Free Urban Foraging Workshops July 10 & 11

Jul7

seafm-8-3-foraging (1)Did you know that many of the native species we see around us (and label as weeds) once were a prize source of both food and medicine? On Friday and Saturday, Our Kitchen Table’s urban forester, Laura Casaletto, will lead Urban Foraging Workshops at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market. Ms. Casaletto will share how to identify the edible plants growing in your Grand Rapids neighborhoods. She has been using foraging as a means to supplement her family’s food budget for many years.

The Friday workshop at Garfield Park will start at 4 p.m.; the Saturday workshop at G R Ford will start at noon. The market is open for business:

  • Fridays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE
  • Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card, you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).

Free “how-to” garden class tonight!

Jun29

anita aHow to Plan Your Food Garden
6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 29
Garfield Park Lodge
334 Burton St. SE 49507
Our Kitchen Table is offering its “How to Plan Your Food Garden” class just one more time in 2015. Facilitated by OKT garden coach, Mary Colburn, the class shares tips on soil, planting and caring for food plants, with special emphasis on achieving success in an urban setting. A requirement for OKT residential garden program participants, the free class is open to the public.

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Summer Celebration Saturday

Jun25
West Michigan Jewels of Africa Traditional African Dance and Drum Troop wowed the crowd at the market’s 2014 Summer Celebration.

West Michigan Jewels of Africa Traditional African Dance and Drum Troop wowed the crowd at the market’s 2014 Summer Celebration.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market hosts its Summer Celebration Saturday June 27 during market hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.. Special activities include live music, cooking demos featuring “Easy Salad Dressings,”  a noon performance by the West Michigan Jewels of Africa Traditional African Dance and Drum Troop and live music by guitarist, Eddie Killowatts.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market also operates 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. Both locations warmly welcome Bridge cards (SNAP), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards.Market patrons making purchases with Bridge Card/SNAP can sign up on site for Double Up Food Bucks—and receive $1 for each $1 dollar spent on Michigan produce, up to $20 for buying more Michigan produce each market visit

Though the market might look small, its vendors offer a nice the variety of locally grown produce and craft items. Come July, when the growing season is well underway, vendors will have much more fresh local produce for sale.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is sponsored by Kent County Health Department, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council & Our Kitchen Table, market managers.

Women of Color Convening Thursday June 25

Jun24

What Does Our Southeast Neighborhoods’ Food System Look Like?

image (2)Women of Color Convening
6 – 8 p.m. Thursday June 25
Brown Hutcherson Ministries
618 Jefferson SE 49503

Have you heard people call our southeast side neighborhoods a food desert? Do you know why this is not a true picture of our foodscape?  Let’s share information and insights that can help us discover how to create better access to healthy foods  in our neighborhoods. OKT’s executive director, Lisa Oliver-King, will facilitate the dialogue. Our cooking coach, Ms. Toni Scott, will prepare and serve nutritious (delicious!) refreshments for this free event–succotash and ginger bubbly tea. Recipes available to take home!

Farmers’ Market this Friday 3 to 7 p.m. & Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.!

Jun17

seafm logoSoutheast Area Farmers’ Market opening days are Friday & Saturday June 19 & 20. The market operates at two locations through November 14:

  • Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
    at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE.
  • Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.

Neighbors love walking to the market, picking up fresh, locally grown produce and chatting with each other and the market vendors and staff. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use the fruits and veggies you pick up!

DUFB SEAFM 7-25The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card,you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).

OKT offering free Food Justice Primer Monday evening, June 15

Jun11

foodjusticeFood Justice Primer

Monday June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Garfield Park Lodge

334 Burton St. SE 49507

For the better part of a decade, people in West Michigan have been excited about and explored the importance of eating local and eating organic. The idea of eating healthier foods in many ways has become mainstream. However, for people experiencing income challenges or living in neighborhoods of color, access to these healthier foods is not a reality. A true food apartheid exists in our community—and that’s where the work of food justice begins.

If you want to know more about that work—or become involved in it yourself—please join us for this brief introduction to food justice. OKT team member, Stelle  Slootmaker, will facilitate an informal dialogue on the principles of food justice with group input on how we can practice it locally.