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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.

 

Free Green Chemistry Webinar

Aug7

Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse presents

How Our Perceptions of Green Chemistry Will Drive Implementation

with LYNN LEGER, Director, ALCERECO

3 p.m. Wednesday August 14

How can we have the greatest impact on accelerating the adoption of Green Chemistry? This question comes up at most gatherings of people interested in advancing Green Chemistry and the answers in the hallways are varied. Marketing teaches us that people will act on their own perceptions. A recent survey of professionals in Green Chemistry looked at what are the perceptions of Green Chemists with regard to the question of greatest impact as well as some of the commonly-held perceptions like price premium and the value of regulations. This webinar will discuss these perceptions and compare the results of perception to the reality of some success stories.

After completing a degree in Chemistry and an MBA, Lynn Leger joined DuPont’s Automotive Coatings business where she held a variety of business, marketing and technical positions. Lynn then changed market focus and led new initiatives in Food Safety for DuPont including responsibility for leading major R&D initiatives in breakthrough disinfection technology. Lynn joined GreenCentre Canada in 2010 as a Director of Commercial Development and worked with universities across Canada to commercialize greener technologies. Lynn is a named inventor on 13 patent applications in technologies representing each of the different businesses with which she has been associated. She is a frequent speaker on innovation and green chemistry including chairing a session on commercialization of Green Chemistry at the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute meeting this summer. Lynn is currently starting a new business, ALCERECO, that will develop and commercialize new Advanced Materials in a number of markets.

Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/361712112

Market Celebration a Fun Community Success!

Jul30

0727131254a (1)Last Saturday, the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market celebrated community with its annual Grand Opening Celebration. Market Manager Roni VanBuren and the market team put together a wonderful day for community to celebrate healthy foods and healthy fun.

Activities began with El Amin’s blessing of the market. As he poured out water as an offering, his blessing  called to remembrance community members’ roots in Africa, the times of slavery, sharecropping and migration north to cities like Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids musician and artist, Derrick “Vito” Hollowell, spun tunes that kept the market atmosphere mellow and upbeat. Urban farmer and kitchen coach, Anja Mast demonstrated how to make easy greens smoothies and raw kale pasta salad. The samples went quick! And,  the Jewels of Western Michigan wowed the crowd with African Dance and Drumming.

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OKT gardeners and Well House residents learn about composting

Jul29

WellHouseCompostClass.7On Monday July 22, biochemist and OKT collaborative partner, Clinton Boyd PhD, taught a group Well House members, OKT gardeners and neighborhood residents the true nature of compost and how to end up with the rich humus that gardens need.  He offered samples for participants to touch, smell and even taste.

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What is compost?  According to Boyd, compost is an overused term 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. Boyd says that real composting results in fluffy humus, rich in carbon.  While similar to potting soil in texture and color, it is healthier for your garden.

Camilla Voelker, Well House urban farmer, said that she gained a lot of knowledge from Clinton will help her improve Well House’s composting practices. Well House provides safe, affordable housing to the homeless. Like OKT, Well House believes that food is everyone’s right … not a privilege for those who can afford it.

Saturday! Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Celebrates Community

Jul25
Derrick "Vito" Hollowell will be back doing hip hop with the Rare Gruves

Derrick “Vito” Hollowell will be back doing hip hop with the Rare Gruves

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market celebrates its community with a Grand Opening event 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday July 27 at Gerald R Ford Middle School, Madison Avenue just south of Franklin Street SE.

Market partners, Our Kitchen Table, Kent County Health Department and Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council have planned a full day music, kids’ activities, cooking demos, health information, dance-exercise and more.

Back by popular demand, Grand Rapids fine artist and musician, Derrick “Vito” Hollowell and the Rare Gruve will be by to spit some rhymes about eating healthy and growing strong.

Schedule of activities:

  • 11 a.m. Aliciea Woodard, Dance Exercise
  • 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Vito and the Rare Gruve, Hip Hop
  • 12:30 pm El Amin, Blessing of the Market
  • 1:30 Girls on Fire, Vocal Group
  • 2 p.m.  Jewels of Western Michigan, African Dance and Drumming

Kids’ activities begin at 1:30 p.m. Cooking demos throughout the day.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market takes place Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford School. The Friday Farm Stand at Garfield Park is open 3 to 7 p.m. Both locations accept SNAP (Bridge Cards), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits Summer EBT, debit cards and Sr. Project Fresh.

Cook Eat & Talk delicious success despite power outage

Jul18

On Monday July 15, a large group crowded into a somewhat small sunlit room for OKT’s July Cook Eat and Talk. Jermal Eddie of Malamiah Juice Bar taught us how to make our own, very fruity vitamin water while OKT’s Kristin Blood shared some dill-licious dill recipes.

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