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OKT co-sponsored chestnut tree planting at Alexander Park

Nov24

alexanderOn Saturday Nov. 1, Our Kitchen Table’s urban forester, Laura Casaletto, joined a group of volunteers from Friends of Grand Rapids Parks in planting chestnut trees at Alexander Park. Laura shares, ” In a neglected and devalued street of Grand Rapids once thriving with it’s own grocery and large stately homes, Alexander Park took shape years ago when long term residents advocated to gain a public space cobbled together out of the abandoned properties. Now this peaceful play space has a mini orchard of fruit and nut trees. A dozen volunteers showed up to support the beginnings of a permaculture designed to benefit neighbors in years to come with little maintenance. Our Kitchen Table and Yesterdog worked together to feed the cold and hungry crew a good lunch afterwards and hear the latest news about edible chestnuts, urban foraging and sustainable living–and to make some new friends. Long live trees! Long live the feisty spirit of the Alexander residents!”

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The last slide shows  the one-year-old  fruit trees planted at Martin Luther King Park. Last year, they took  a heavy toll of vandalism damage. This year, a beautiful dedication sign was installed and  made all the difference.

Beyond Eating Local: OKT’s Food Justice Class begins this Saturday

Nov11

storyimages_1323208706_img3894For the better part of a decade, people in West Michigan have been excited about and explored the importance of eating local and eating organic.

The idea of eating local in many ways is very mainstream. There are more Farmers Markets now than there were 10 years ago and greater interesting in people growing at least some of their own food.

However, for those of us who embrace the principles of food justice and try to learn from the international movement, eating local is not enough. Not only is eating local not enough, what we see happening over and over again is that the local “food movement” continues to operate within the narrow confines of the market economy, thus limiting the real possibilities of creating food justice that leads to food sovereignty.

The OKT class on Food Justice is designed to critically engage participants in a much deeper conversation about the food system and how we practice food justice. The five week sessions will cover the following topics:

  • tomato justiceUnderstanding the current food system
  • Exploring the principles and origin of food justice
  • Investigating how Food Justice is linked to other justice movements
  • How to practice Food Justice, especially in West MI

The class format is mostly discussion, with lots of information presented that can be accessed online. Participation is not limited to being able to attend all 5 sessions, but attending at least three is important for continuity.

The classes are free and people can just show up or let us know by contacting Our Kitchen Table at OKTable1@gmail.com.

Cook, Eat & Talk Saturday Nov. 1: Pumpkin power!

Oct28
Cook Eat & Talk:
Preparing and preserving pumpkin seeds and puree
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 1, 2014
Sherman Street Church kitchen
1000 Sherman St. SE 49506

One of the first cultivated foods of the Americas, pumpkins were a staple food in Oaxaca (Mexico) as early as 8750 BC—long before corn or beans. By 2700 BC, they had spread to the eastern United States .The Pueblo, Apaches, Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Papago, Pima and Yuman all counted on the pumpkin’s flesh and seeds as a staple food. They roasted the seeds and ate them with chili powder or mixed with fruits and nuts. As for the flesh, they roasted, dried or boiled it. Mashed boiled pumpkin was mixed with batter or syrup or used to thicken soup. Dried pumpkin was sliced into rings and hung in storerooms for winter. Another historical pumpkin tidbit, resourceful African American slaves who were afforded few cooking utensils used carved out pumpkins and other squash as cooking pots.

From the Americas, pumpkins spread to Eastern Europe, India, Asia and the Mediterranean, where pumpkin seeds became a standard part of everyday cuisine and medical traditions. According to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad’s favorite food was pumpkin. Jack O’ Lanterns, carved from pumpkins, are a Halloween tradition linked to the Christian celebration of All Souls Day, initiated by the Irish. Today, Michigan is one of the top pumpkin producing states.

Pumpkin flesh is low in fat and rich in nutrients. One cup of cooked pumpkin provides three grams of fiber, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A, C and E—200% of your daily requirement of vitamin A (for healthy eyes). It also provides carotenoids, which can help lower your risk for cancer (sure you don’t want to call Lawsuit Xarelto for help). Pumpkin seeds (pepitas) have anti‐microbial benefits, including anti‐fungal and antiviral properties. So, they are a great snack during the cold and flu season. Studies have shown pumpkin seeds may improve insulin regulation and help kidney function.

This Saturday, Nov. 1, OKT cooking coach, Toni Scott, and garden coach, Camilla Voelker, will share how to prepare and preserve pumpkin seeds and pumpkin puree. Cook, Eat & Talk It takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at Sherman Street Church kitchen, 1000 Sherman St. SE. .

OKT co-sponsors tree-planting event at Alexander Park

Oct27

Volunteer! Alexander Park Community Orchard

614 Alexander SE  NOVEMBER 1 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

OKT urban forester, Laura Casaletto, invites you to join friends and neighbors to plant 15 edible trees at Alexander Park. These trees will beautify the park and provide edible nuts and fruit for neighbors and the community. Every helping hand gathered will be greatly appreciated as the efforts of volunteers are what helps drive these events and programs.

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks provides the tools, trees, and training. You will need drinking water, any snacks you might want, closed-toed shoes, and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. We plant rain or shine, so dress appropriately for the weather. Contact Lee (lee.mueller@friendsofgrparks.org) to register.

This project is funded in part by donations and sponsorship to the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks “tree bank,” the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Our Kitchen Table.

 

Seed Swap and Potluck

Oct20

Let’s save plant diversity–and save money! The Greater Grand Rapids Food System Council invites all area resident gardeners to meet for a Garden Gathering, Seed Swap and Potluck, 5 p,m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center, 409 Lafayette S.E 49503. Bring your organic,heirloom or non-gmo seeds and trade them with other local gardeners. The event also includes a potluck, so bring a dish to pass (if you can) and your own place setting.

“I am looking forward to swapping some of my seeds with fellow gardeners, says event organizer, Leslie Powers. “Also, I am excited to connect with people who are also saving seeds and to educate others about the importance of plant diversity and how saving our seeds accomplishes that.”

Leslie also notes that by swapping, you don’t have to buy a whole package of seeds when you only need a few for limited garden space. RSVP to Cynthia Price, skyprice@gmail.com  or (231)670-6059.

Canning skill-share a fun success! Next one is Nov. 1.

Oct14
1011141022a“My mother used to can everything, but I never really learned and I even gave away all her canning jars. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t done that.”
This comment was overheard at OKT’s canning class on Saturday. Co-facilitated by OKT’s cooking coach Ms. Toni and garden coach Jeff Smith, this particular Cook, Eat & Talk session shared how to can applesauce. Every one of the participants said they had never canned anything before, but were excited to learn about the process.
Everyone took part in peeling a cutting up the apples, necessary before cooking them down to make sauce. They made a batch of plain applesauce and one batch with honey and cinnamon. Once all the apples were cut and cooking down, they had an opportunity to talk about the canning process a bit more and discuss techniques for preserving food.
During the discussion, participants were able to enjoy some food that Ms. Toni prepared. This made the conversation about food preparation even more meaningful.
Once the apples cooked down, they put the sauce in jars and did two rounds of hot-bathing, one for the plain and the other for the spiced applesauce. Everyone took a turn at filling jars and then taking the jars out to cool down. Every time one of the jars made a popping sound, people expressed excitement about how quickly the jars were sealing.
By the end of the session, people felt like new friends brought together by great conversation and food. Each participant went home with two pints of canned applesauce. People were so enthused that they gave input on what they might like to learn to can in the November. Suggestions included pickled veggies, pumpkin, apple butter and sweet potatoes. Stay tuned for the next session, which will be held on Saturday, November 1.

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The 2014 Michigan Good Food Summit

Sep30

The Third Michigan Good Food Summit Returns to Lansing!

(East Lansing, MI)   The third Michigan Good Food Summit will be returning to the Lansing Center on Tuesday, October 28th, 2014  Hosted by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, the Summit will build on the momentum and success around the Michigan Good Food Charter. The six-goal charter is roadmap for a food system rooted in local communities and centered on good food, food that is healthy, green, fair and affordable. More than 600 organizations and individuals have signed a resolution of support for the charter.

Registration is $40 including an evening reception and film October 27th and $30 for October 28th only.  Registration is now open at:  https://www.regonline.com/2014goodfoodsummit.  You can also find information on lodging, transportation, and exhibitor opportunities at the registration link.

Who attends the Summit? Anyone who wants to develop a good food system in Michigan and work with others to further the Michigan Good Food Charter.

What is the goal?  Consumers, growers, buyers, advocates, educators, policymakers and others learning from each other and growing Michigan’s collective capacity to implement and track progress toward good food.

A reception and film will precede the Summit on the late afternoon of October 27th at the Lansing Center.  The Summit itself begins at 9:00 a.m. on the 28th, with a keynote conversation on Growing and Buying Good Food, featuring Detroit Public Schools’ food service director, Betti Wiggins and farmer/community organizer, Barbara Norman.  Two sets of interactive workshops will be held during the day and the closing keynote will feature Dr. Oran Hesterman, president and CEO of the Fair Food Network.

For more information, including how to become a sponsor or exhibitor, contact Kathryn Colasanti atcolokat@msu.edu or Diane Drago at ddrago@dmsevents.com.

This evening! Edible Tree Walk at Garfield Park

Sep24

WEDNESDAY|SEPTEMBER 24, 2014|6:00 PM–7:30 PM|GARFIELD PARK

 

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is proud to announce a tour of the beautiful, edible, and toxic trees of Garfield Park with Citizen Forester & OKT Urban Forester Laura  Casaletto.  Learn some of the strange and amazing things trees do for us and for their own vitality.  Receive easy to learn self-guided materials to help recall what you saw and use year-round. Kids and adults alike will be encouraged to put new things in their mouths! Eat a tree! 

Meet at the Garfield Park Pavilion.