Here is a slideshow from OKT’s July 6 Urban Foraging event.Free foraging handouts will be available at today’s event, as well.
Baxter Neighborhood Centers’ July Flyer
Urban Foraging Workshop
12 – 2 p.m. Saturday July 6 at Gerald R. Ford Middle School with Laura Casaletto, OKT Urban Forest Consultant
The Southeast Area Famers’ Market will host an Urban Foraging Workshop for the third year in a row, 12 – 2 p.m. Saturday July 6 at Gerald R Ford Middle School. Just like the grocery stores have helped us forget that food comes from farms, cultivation of domestic crops has helped us forget that many of the native species we see around us (and label as weeds) once were a prize source of both food and medicine. Here is a list of some of the edible plants (weeds) growing in Grand Rapids neighborhoods:
When foraging, make sure you pick plants from an area that has not been chemically contaminated. For example, utility companies usually spray a swath of herbicides under electricity towers.
On Wednesday June 19, Our Kitchen Table hosted one leg of a Grand Rapids tour-stop for people attending The Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society and the Society for the Study of Food and Society conference sponsored by the Michigan State University Department of Community Sustainability. Tour particiants came from as far away as Washington State and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
OKT tour stops included the Eastown Community Association community garden,which offers rental plots; the Logan Street Community garden, which is run collectively and shares food with all neighbors; Mrs. Penda Childrey’s third-generation yard garden; and an OKT container garden situated in a constituent’s yard that is highly lead contaminated. Lisa Oliver-King, OKT executive director, Laura Cassaletto, OKT urban forest consultant, and Dr. Clinton Boyd, OKT consulting bio-chemist, made brief presentations throughout the tour.
In addition to touring Eastown neighborhood gardens affiliated with OKT, the group toured Uptown Kitchen, Founders Brewery, Fulton Street Farmers’ Market,Lubbers Family Farm and Sicilianos Market. “We have purposely chosen a wide range of place to visit including farms, businesses, and breweries in order to give attendees a broad sense of what is happening in this vibrant city,” said tour facilitator, Wes Eaton. “Grand Rapids is a hotbed of all things food related, and on this trip you will experience not only the tastes and sights, but meet the people who aspire to shape their community’s food pathways and hear their stories.”
Vendor Yvonne Woodard sells medicinal and culinary herbs along with produce grown in her own urban garden at the market.
If you stopped by the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market last year, you know that it is a small market averaging four or five vendors each week—though each vendor tended to have a good variety of fresh produce for sale. As our vendors are local, small-scale growers and gardeners, the cold spring has meant that they have had little to offer the market. So, only one vendor, Ms. Yvonne Woodard, has been selling at the market thus far. Market manager, Roni VanBuren, has also brought in additional produce for patrons to purchase.
Because of this slow start, the market is rescheduling its Grand Opening celebration to July 27. By that time, more vendors will be at the market selling a larger variety of fresh, locally grown produce.
While the selection may be limited this weekend, the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market staff hopes you will stop by and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Ms. Van Buren asks that you share your input with her on how the market might better serve you and your community.
Market hours: Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Middle School; 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. In July, the Double Up Food Bucks will begin.
Looks like a good month ahead!
Hope you will join us!
On Friday May 31, a group of OKT’s yard gardeners met at Blandford Nature Center’s farm to pick up their second round of organic, heirloom food plants: zucchini, okra, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, cucmbers, watermelon, peppers and herbs–sage, rosemary, basil, chives and mint. The first plant distribution earleier in May included plants suited to cooler weather such as greens and kohl varieties. Blandford’s Farmer Aaron shared tips on planting and caring for each food plant.
OKT intern, Brooklyn Nicks, was in charge of sowing and growing the food plants in the Blandford Farm greenhouse. Wow Brooklyn! You did good!
Inner City Community Advocates (ICCA) will host its first Inner City Community Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 3 at Lifequest Community Park, on Alto St. SE between Hall and Fisk. ICCA is looking for craft vendors: jewelry, soaps, candles, lap scarves, home decor, flower arrangements, scrap booking. ICCA also welcomes people with merchandise to sell, such as t-shirts, jewelry, or cosmetics. The vendor table fee is$30. To sign on, contact ICCA at iccagr@aol.com. If you are not a crafter, please save the date!
A grassroots community nonprofit, ICCA provides workshops, seminars and programs on issues that affect the lives of the inner city residents of Grand Rapids. Its initiatives focus on health,employment and youth.
Our Kitchen Table 