Archives

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market — July specials!

Jul18

SEAFM logo 6 2017The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 900 Fuller Ave. SE 49506. In addition to fresh, local produce and cottage kitchen goodies, the market has cooking demos scheduled for the last two weeks in July.

The July 22 demo will feature easy, healthy affordable recipes featuring in-season produce. The market will also host special guests from Bridge Magazine. Bridge’s mission is “to inform Michigan citizens about their state, amplify their views and explore the challenges of our civic life. Our goal at Bridge is simple: To better inform Michigan’s private citizens so as to encourage a vibrant state in both the private and public sectors.” Patrons who sign up to subscribe at the market will receive a free tote bag and be entered to win one of five $100 Amazon gift cards. Stop by their table to share issues you feel this publication ought to be covering! Stop by their table to share issues you feel this publication ought to be covering!

Green tomato CookbookOn July 29, the market will host its annual Fried Green Tomato Festival. Patrons can sample fried green tomatoes and other green tomato delicacies. In addition, the market will hand out free Green Tomato Cookbooks, featuring everything from southern fried green tomatoes and chow-chow to pickles and green tomato cake. The market will also hand out coupons good towards the purchase of green tomatoes.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT, Double Up Food Bucks and debit cards. When using 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.

For information, email seafm@OKTjustice.org or visit http://www.OKTjustice.org/farmers-market

 

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opens Saturday July 1

Jun27

13882561_1253537447998287_2460462587423020698_nThe Southeast Area Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2017 season on Saturday July 1 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 900 Fuller Ave. SE 49506. The market will operate Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 11. Market events commence July 8 with a visit from the Grand Rapids Fire Department Residential Safety Program and an Urban Foraging Workshop (noon to 2 p.m.). A new addition to the market, once a month it will host area artists at its Arts Market tent.

“As market managers for the past seven years, Our Kitchen Table has well established the market at MLK Jr. Park,” says Lisa Oliver-King, executive director of Our Kitchen Table. “Neighborhood residents have enjoyed having access to fresh, local produce and cottage foods within walking distance.”

dufb_bridgecardThe Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT, Double Up Food Bucks and debit cards. When using 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 Market has an exciting line-up of market activities on its 2017 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:

 

  • July 8 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • July 30 Fried Green Tomato Festival
  • Aug. 5 DIY Personal Care Items Workshop
  • Sept. 15 Art at the Market
  • Oct. 1 Greens Cook-off
  • Oct. 7 Greens Cook-0ff
  • Nov. 4 Fall Celebration

Cooking Demos: July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.

 

Arts Market Tent:  July 15, Aug. 12, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21

 

For information, email seafm@OKTjustice.org or visit http://www.OKTjustice.org/farmers-market


 

 

Free! May food gardening & cooking classes!

Apr25

Deanna 2Our Kitchen Table invotes you to join us for our four-part food gardening series, taught by farmer Leslie Huffman.

· May 1 & June 5: How to Plan Your Food Garden 1
· May 8 & June 12: How to Plan Your Food Garden 2
· May 15 & June 19: Composting & Vermiculture
· May 22, June 26: How to Save Seeds

These classes take place Mondays 6 – 8 p.m. at Garfield Park Lodge, 334 Burton SE, Grand Rapids. OKT is also partnering with Baxter Community Center to offer these additional May classes at Baxter, 935 Baxter SE 49506 (Bemis entrance):

Wednesday May 3: Cooking with Whole and Bulk Foods. This class will take a look at foods you can order through OKT’s Collective Whole Foods Purchase Group and how to prepare some simple meals and snacks with them, e.g. oatmeal, popcorn, dried beans and quinoa and trail mixes.

Wednesday May 10: Canning Basics. Baxter staff will take us to the kitchen and show us how to preserve foods from our gardens and farm markets.

Baxter Community Center and other area agencies are offering many other gardening and cooking classes, as well. Check them out on the 2017 Healthy Happenings Calendar below.2017 combined calendar Online rev..

Our Farmers’ Market enjoyed a successful season

Nov21

November 12 marked the last day for the 2016 Southeast Area Farmers’ Market. For the first year, both market days, Friday and Saturday, were held at MLK Jr. Park at 900 Fuller St. SE. The yellow market tents drew lots of traffic from park visitors and passersby. Many community partners, including the Spoke Folks, GRFD, LINC-UP Soul Food Cafe, Planned Parenthood and others, shared resources and special events like Art at the Market and the Greens Cook-off made market days even more fun. Thank you vendors, patrons and partners!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Come to the last session of Cook, Eat & Talk on Thursday

Nov14

cook-eat-talk-bannerThursday Nov. 17 marks the final public session of OKT’s 8-week cooking series with Grand Rapids’ cooking chef and farmer, Anja Mast. Participants have  prepared and tasted a host of healthy dishes, become more “food literate” so healthy choices are easier, and learned about food justice. Please join us for either the morning 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. session of the evening 6 to 8 p.m. evening session to learn how to make healthy mac-n-cheese from scratch. Both take place at Sherman Stree Church, 1000 Sherman St. SE 49506.

Last week, Anja shared super-healthy deserts including black bean brownies and bread pudding.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

GR Food Co-op Initiative at last Farmers’ Market tomorrow

Nov11
14853092_1244022365656665_1021203837394574796_oSaturday Nov. 12 is the last day of this year’s Southeast Area Farmers’ Market. The market is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MLK Jr. Park, 900 Fuller Ave. SE. The Grand Rapids Food Co-op Initiative will be on hand to answer questions about their plans for increasing access to healthy foods in center-city Grand Rapids. Here’s how they describe their work:
“Grand Rapids is coming together to build a full-service grocery cooperative near downtown. We’re really excited to create a new place for community. Our space is intended to bring people in for more than groceries. We hope it will be a welcoming place for everyone in Grand Rapids. We hope people will spend their free time here. We want friends to meet for a sandwich from the deli, a coffee from the cafe, or some wine they bought off the store shelf. We want to have inviting common areas where people feel comfortable to just hang out and be. We want to gather the community for events like educational workshops on everything from healthy eating to sustainable food systems. Or maybe to watch and discuss a documentary. Or listen to some live music!
 
We want this place to represent Grand Rapids. We are a diverse city and we want our space to reflect that fully. We hope member-owners of every age, race, income and opinion will shop for healthy food, engage in conversations, and grow personally.”
 
For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.