In addition to helping at the farmers market, Kevon Hess and Belinda Henderson oversee OKT’s food garden programs at homes and schools. Looks like families are going to have some good food this week!
School gardens are producing
Archives
Southeast Area Farmers Market opens July 12
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market provides a wide variety of local produce, cottage kitchen foods, personal care items, crafts and ready-to-eat foods. Our vendors are primarily women of color, home growers and residents of OKT’s targeted neighborhoods. In addition to providing access to healthy food, the market hosts meal preparation activities, workshops and guests from community organizations. The market accepts most food assistance programs.
Welcome produce anchor New City Farm
New City Farm, a program of New City Neighbors, empowers youth through hands-on learning. The Farm grows on over four acres across three locations: a one-acre urban farm at 1115 Leonard St. NE; as partners with Grand Valley State University’s sustainability department on the Allendale campus; and two leased two acres at Plainsong Farm & Ministry in Rockford, MI. New City Farm will sell their fresh local produce at every Southeast Area Farmers Market this season. Produce not sold will be donated to Baxter Community Center’s Marketplace.
Welcome Baxter Community Center
OKT is thrilled to welcome Baxter Community Center as a partner in this year’s Southeast Area Farmers Market. Over the years, OKT has collaborated with Baxter on community events, bulk food orders, and healthy eating and cooking classes. In addition other its Marketplace, Baxter offers medical and dental services, a Child Development Center, and youth and adult programming.
Welcome Vendors!
If you would like to become a vendor, email SEAFM@OKTjustice.org for a Vendor Application Packet.
Welcome Community Organizations!
Schedule a date to table at the market and share your resources with our patrons.
The Southeast Farmers Market is managed by Our Kitchen Table. Contact market manager Belinda Hendersen at SEAFM@OKTjustice.org.
Food plants almost ready!
Blandford Farm timed the planting of OKT’s starter food plants so they’d be ready to go in the ground right around Memorial Day.
“We are right on track. We were able to get almost all the herbs to germinate as well,” says Elizabeth Visser, Blandford Farm Manager. “I still need to pot up the mustard greens. They grow fairly quickly, so I seeded them later than some of the other greens. All the plants will be ready to pick up during the last week of May.”
OKT will be in touch with this year’s growers to let them know when and where they can pick up plants or expect delivery.
Think spring! Think food gardens!
Check out the free OKT food growing guide! Growing Food, Eating Healthy, Living Sustainably
Would you like to grow your own food? Yes, it takes some work but the results are worth the effort. Food harvested from your own garden plot, raised bed, or containers offers more nutrients, taste, and convenience.
OKT’s free food growing guide gives you lots of tips on planting, maintaining, harvesting, and eating from your garden — like this chart that lays out when to plant what.
OKT’s Program for Growth at four local schools
Our Kitchen Table is thrilled to announce that we will be growing healthy organic food with more schools this spring, summer and fall. In addition to Glenwood Elementary School in Kentwood and Campus Elementary School in Grand Rapids, we will be back at Grand Rapids Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy and, for the first time, Grand Rapids Dickinson Elementary.
The Program for Growth not only enlists students in gardening. Their parents and caregivers are encouraged to volunteer in the garden and attend classes on healthy eating led by a registered dietitian. With direction from OKT peer garden coach Belinda Henderson, families who chose to are provided with organic food plants, soil, containers or raised beds, and coaching so they can grow their own food at home as well.
New City Farm to vend produce at Southeast Area Farmers Market
Our Kitchen Table is thrilled to announce that New City Farm will be selling its fresh local produce as a vendor at the the Southeast Area Farmers Market during the 2025 market season.
New City Farms’ produce is 100% grown naturally, hyper local, and offers a large selection. New City Farms’ programs support youth employment for 20 high school students annually. And, it assists young farm professionals in developing entrepreneurial skills while creating a more resilient food system in Grand Rapids.
New City Farm CSA shares available with SNAP
1. Select “Become a Shareholder.”
2. Click on the share size you want to buy.
3. Click on the seasons you want to participate — spring, summer, and/or fall.
4. Click on “EBT Checkout.”
5. Checkout & register for an account.
You will receive a confirmation email 3-4 weeks before it’s time to pick up your first share at our farmhouse at 1115 Leonard St NE, 49505, located on bus lines 13 & 15.
Using Double Up Food Bucks, and EBT Card food Dollars, you can buy a CSA farm share from New City Farm for half price — and you can pay in advance or pay weekly. Bridge Card holders can sign up at NewCityFarm.org or scan the QR Code in the image below.
Is pumpkin pie on your Thanksgiving menu?
Are you planning on serving pumpkin pie on Thursday? Consider baking a fresh, local pie pumpkin for added nutrition, flavor, and seeds you can roast for healthy snacks later. Here is a handout OKT developed a few years ago for our food growers. You’ll find more handy information as well as recipes on the resources pages of this website.
Last market of the season Saturday Nov. 2
Saturday Nov. 2 will be the last time the Southeast Area Farmers Market will meet during 2024. Stop by to stock up on local produce for canning or freezing — or to enjoy one more taste of fresh. And our non-food vendors have some lovely products that make perfect gifts, if you want to get a jumpstart on the holidays.
Southeast Area Farmers Market Saturday Oct. 5!
When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: MLK Jr. Park, Fuller & Franklin SE
We accept SNAP and more!
MLK Jr. Park is under construction bit that’s not stopping us from bringing fresh local produce, cottage foods, and other fabulous fare to you on Saturday as scheduled. Please park on the street and patronize these fabulous vendors!
Southeast Area Farmers Market 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday Sept. 7.
The Grand Rapids Public Library Mobile Library will be at the market from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sign up for a library card, check out books and movies, access free WiFi, and more!
Look for the yellow market tents! The Southeast Area Farmers Market provides a wide variety of local produce, cottage kitchen foods, personal care items, crafts and ready-to-eat foods. Our vendors are primarily women of color, home growers and residents of OKT’s targeted neighborhoods. In addition to providing access to healthy food, the market hosts meal preparation activities, workshops and guests from community organizations.
Our Kitchen Table 