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Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opens June 19

Jun8

IMG_5084The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2015 season on Friday June 19, 3 – 7 p.m.,  at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. and Saturday June 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE. The market is managed by Our Kitchen Table (OKT). The market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards.

As part of a Fair Food Network pilot project and in cooperation with the Kent County Health Department, OKT has been signing people up for the Double Up Food Bucks program. Patrons purchasing Michigan produce at select farmers’ markets with Bridge cards receive $1 for each $1 dollar spent, up to $20 each market visit.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market has an exciting line-up of market activities on its 2015 calendar. In addition, community organizations will be on hand with information, activities and services. The following events will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Friday market and 12 to 2 p.m. at the Saturday market:

Cooking Demos: June 26, 27, July 24, 25, Aug. 21, 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7.

  • seafm logoJune 27 Summer Celebration DJ & fun activities
  • July 10 & 11 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • July 31 & Aug.1 Make Your Own Personal Care Items Workshop
  • Sept. 5 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • Sept. 19 Art at the Market
  • Oct. 10 Greens Cook-off & Fried Green Tomato Festival
  • Oct. 17 World Food Day Activities
  • Oct. 31 Fall Celebration

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

Join the fun! Eat good food!

Jun2

IMG_5290Cook, Eat & Talk

6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 8
Brown-Hutcherson Ministries
618 Jefferson SE, 49503.
Join OKT cooking coaches for a fun and informative evening of cooking, sharing ideas and tasting healthy, delicious dishes! Emphasis will be on in-season produce and inexpensive yet nutritious options that are easy to make for yourself and your family. Although OKT hosts its Cook, Eat & Talks to show its gardening program participants how to make use of their garden produce, this free event is open to all community members at no charge.

This is the fifth year OKT has hosted monthly Cook, Eat & Talk events as part of its Food Diversity Project, which is funded by a grant from the w K Kellogg Foundation.

Free! Cook, Eat & Talk Monday evening at Sherman St. Church

May14

1011141022aCOOK, EAT & TALK
6 – 8 p.m. Monday May 18
Sherman Street Church
1000 Sherman St. SE 49507

Join OKT cooking coach, Fonda Kingsley, for a fun and informative evening of cooking, sharing ideas and tasting healthy, delicious dishes! Emphasis will be on in-season produce and inexpensive yet nutritious options that are easy to make for yourself and your family.

OKT & The Literacy Center teamed up for healthy eating

May12

Throughout April, Our Kitchen Table had the fabulous opportunity to share its Cook, Eat & Talk activities with Latino families involved in The Literacy Center of West Michigan’s family night events. This short video shares one Literacy Center teacher’s reaction to this joint effort.

Held at various area public schools, the events provide opportunity for adults who are learning English to bring their families for an informal dinner and activities that help them build their language skills. OKT shared how to sprout seeds in jars, how to prepare a delicious kale salad and how to become involved in its residential food gardening program.In addition, OKT shared some basics about food justice and the need for improved access to healthy food in Grand Rapids’ income challenged neighborhoods.

Wednesday! OKT Earth Day Spring Tree Tour

Apr20

Wednesday April 22,
6 – 7:30 p.m.Garfield Park Pavilion,
334 Burton St. SE

This free tree tour is part of the food justice mission of OKT.

Tree tour guide, Laura Casaletto will lead us through Garfield Park where we will munch leaves and nibble flowers together for Earth Day. The menu includes spruce tips, the nectar inside tulip tree flowers, black locust flowers, Japanese knotweed shoots, redbud blossoms and perhaps entire linden trees!  IN addition, Laura is bringing bringing ramps for everyone to eat and plant in their own yards as well as a surprise flower everyone can eat.
We’ll certainly find something nice underfoot to add to your Mother’s Day breakfast in bed–and you’ll get a little booklet to help you recall what you learned.
If it rains, we’ll meet under the pavilion anyway!

Women of Color Convening this Thursday

Apr15
Lottie Spady & Lila Cabbil

Lottie Spady & Lila Cabbil

Celebrate Minority Health Month!
Women of Color Convening
6 – 8 p.m. Apr. 16
Brown Hutcherson Ministries
618 Jefferson SE 49503

Join OKT for a dialogue about “The Health Status of Grand Rapids Southeast Neighborhoods.”  Did you know that the African American women living in Grand Rapids southeast neighborhoods eat more fruits and vegetables than other women living in the rest of Kent County? Nutrition smarts is something take pride in … but how is our urban environment truly impacting our overall health? Let’s share information and stories that can help us discover how to create improved wellness  for our families and neighbors. OKT’s executive director, Lisa Oliver-King will facilitate the dialogue. Our cooking coaches will prepare and serve nutritious (delicious!) refreshments for this free event.

OKT offers free Composting & Vermiculture class April 11

Apr6
Clinton Boyd PhD. leading 2014 OKT composting class.

Clinton Boyd PhD. leading 2014 OKT composting class.

On Saturday April 11, OKT is hosting a free Composting and Vermiculture class from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Garfield Park Lodge, 334 Burton St. SE 49507. Come and learn about the true nature of compost and how to end up with the rich humus that your garden needs.

What is compost?   The term “compost” is overused and not clearly defined by those using it.  Commercial industries, backyard gardeners and community gardens say that they are composting but that’s not always the case. Commercial compost you buy at the garden shop or big box store is not regulated—and can even contain toxic industrial wastes. True composting results in fluffy humus that’s rich in carbon.  While similar to potting soil in texture and color, it is much healthier for your garden.

In addition to standard composting methods, this class will also share the basics of vermiculture—using worms to speed and enhance the compost process. Our vermiculture instructor, Alynn Guerra, will bring some worms in to share with participants