Archives

Slow Food West Michigan awards grant to OKT

Mar19

SFWMLogo-e1425570965857Slow Food West Michigan has awarded OKT a you $500 grant to fund our heirloom greens and herbs project, which is part of our food growing project with students and households of Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy. The heirloom herbs to be grown include basil, sage, cilantro, rosemary and more. Students will also be planting a variety of vegetables and fruit plants. The produce will be used for healthy school-day snacks and shared with students’ households.

Blandford Farm is in the process of starting the herb plants for OKT. OKT will also provide seeds, window boxes and containers, soil and soil amendments, and a garden coach to oversee the project.

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Oakdale Community Garden seeking garden stewards

Mar7

oakOakdale Gardens Park, corner of Evergreen St SE and Marshall Ave SE, near River City Scholars Charter Academy, reserves some beds as sharing gardens that anyone may harvest from. They are looking for one or more people who’d like to take charge of the herb bed and flower bed.

While both beds have a mix of perennials and self-seeding annuals,  the new stewards would be free to redesign the plantings and add signage.

Priorities are to grow herbs that people can use for cooking, tea, or medicinally, and flowers that people can use for cut flowers or flower crafts. The stewards can work in the beds whenever their schedules permit Oakdale Gardens Park during, and may enjoy joining one of the posted weekly gathering times. For information, email info@oakdaleneighbors.org and joan@hhcreatives.com.

A whole lot of whole foods

Jan22
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Baxter Community Center Marketplace

Our Kitchen Table’s Collective Whole Foods Purchase Group added a new member about a year ago. Baxter Community Center began ordering whole foods for its pantry program in 2016, when OKT leveraged grant dollars to create the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market “Market Bucks” program. Run in partnership with the Urban Core Collective, most Market Bucks end up in the hands of income-challenged individuals seeking to access healthier foods for their families. These individuals, for the most part, have spent their Market Bucks on locally grown fruits and vending vegetables offered by neighborhood growers vending produce at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market.

 

However, Baxter Community Center is also a Market Bucks recipient. They’ve been using them to purchase whole foods for their pantry patrons. Their last order included quick rolled oats, pinto and black turtle beans, black-eyed peas, organic pasta Market Bucksand yellow grits. These staple, whole food items not only offer excellent nutrition but also encourage patrons to cook healthier, affordable meals from scratch at home.

Thank you, Baxter Community Center, for being a vital part of OKT’s Collective Whole Foods Purchase Group!

If you are interested in purchasing Country Life Natural Foods bulk whole foods with OKT, email media@OKTjustice.org for information. Southeast Area Farmers’ Market patrons can also place orders at the market during the growing season, June through November. No fees! No mark-ups! EBT accepted. View the catalog here.

Eat healthier with bulk, whole foods!

Jan11

clnf catOrder by 5 p.m. Jan. 16. Pick-up at truck at Baxter Community Center week of Jan. 22.

OKT’s Collective Whole Foods Purchase Group offers OKT constituents  and others opportunity to purchase bulk whole foods, e.g. dry beans, whole grain flours, nuts and seeds, pasta, rice, peanut butter, popcorn, vegetable oils, honey and more. Many organic  and vegetarian items are availbale, too!

Items are ordered from Country Life Natural Foods, a supplier to Michigan food co-ops. View the entire PDF Catalog here. Place your order through the contact form on our website or via email.

If you want to pay with Bridge card/SNAP/EBT, please let us know when you order. By ordering together, we can meet minimum purchase requirements for free delivery. OKT does not mark up the price or charge a fee to your order.

Don’t miss it! Last farmers’ market this Saturday

Nov7

IMG_1119Saturday November  11 is the last time that the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market takes place in 2017. The market will take place in LINC’s parking lot at 341 Hall St. SE from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market moved here three weeks ago due to ongoing construction at MLK Jr. Park.snap

Stop by and stock up on Southeast GR’s finest greens, local produce, cottage kitchen foods and more! As always, we welcome Bridge Card, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC, Sr. Project Fresh and SEAFM Market Bucks.

Farmers’ market at LINC a success!

Oct25

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Thursday market at UMCH,  9:30am-1pm, UMCH, , 904 Sheldon SE 49507
No market Oct. 27
The next market will take place Nov. 4
 11a.m. – 4p.m.  at Linc, 167 Madison Ave. SE  

Last Saturday, the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market set up shop in LINC’s parking lot at 167 Madison Ave. SE.  Shoppers began crowding around vendors’ tables before they even had a chance to set up. Yes, the location has changed but the vendors remain the same! Stop by for Southeast GR’s finest greens, local produce, cottage kitchen foods and more!

Due to ongoing construction at MLK Jr. Park, the market will operate at LINC on Nov. 4 and 11. The market will not take place Oct. 27.

As always, we welcome Bridge Card, SNAP, Double Up Food Bucks, WIC ,
Sr. Project Fresh and SEAFM Market Bucks.