Archives

Making fruit wine with Jim & Tom

Jun13

Last Saturday morning, Jim Glenn and Tom Grubb presented at OKT’s free wine making workshop and shared what is needed to make great wine. After the presentation, participants enjoyed a wine tasting of six different wines that Glenn and Grubb make.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Medical research has shown that, for most adults, drinking one glass of wine is good for the heart. Learning to make it yourself saves money, can produce a product that is chemical free and provides a way of preserving fruits and foraged dandelion and mulberries, which are both plentiful in our neighborhoods.

Free Wine Making Workshop headlines OKT Saturday events

Jun8

Please come out ans support these OKT events Saturday June 9. You’ll be glad you did!

Make Your Own Fruit Wine 

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. ◊ Wine tasting, too! Jim Glenn and Tom Grubb will lead this session at 
Uptown Kitchen, 423 Norwood SE in Eastown.

South East Area Farmers’ Market

10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Garfield Park  This small but satisfying market features chemical free produce that has been locally grown. South East Area Farmers’ Market Gerald R Ford Middle School market will commence after school gets out, Friday June 15 from 2 to 7 p.m.

No-hose Watering Options Your Food Garden

10 a.m. to noon at Garfield Park  during the farmers’ market

Crucial 2012 Farm Bill in the Senate this week

Jun6

This is re-posted from GRIID.org

Editors Note: We have been tracking Michigan Senator Stabenow’s role on this issue, since she is the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Food & Water Watch began a campaign last year to target Stabenow, but despite the thousands of letters and signatures Stabenow has not taken the position they had hoped. Below is the most recent update from Food & Water Watch on the 2012 Farm Bill.

This week, the Senate will start debating the next Farm Bill.

This is a critical moment for our food. The Farm Bill is a massive, far-reaching bill that touches almost every aspect of our food, from research funding to agricultural policy to farm subsidies. It is only renewed about once every 5 years. We need to make sure the 2012 Farm Bill moves our food system in the right direction.

In this new Farm Bill, we need to protect what we gained in the 2008 bill, and on that foundation, we need to begin building a food system where consumers have access to safe, healthy food and small farmers can compete in the market. But giant corporate interests are ready to block us every step of the way, using the Farm Bill to win bigger profits for themselves. That’s why we need our Senators to use the 2012 Farm Bill to fix our broken food system.

We have a choice: will this Farm Bill get our broken food system back on track, or if it will continue to favor corporate agriculture over small farmers and consumers? Every Senator will be key in making this choice, and they need to hear from you. Will you ask your Senator to help craft a Fair Farm Bill?

There are two key amendments you should urge your Senator to support:

  • Help small farmers compete in the marketplace with the packer ban amendment. Every day, family farms are going out of business, largely because they can’t compete against large corporations that control most aspects of our food supply. One damaging tactic that corporations use is holding onto their livestock, manipulating the price of meat in the markets and selling when it benefits them most. But small farmers can’t afford to wait for the right market conditions to sell their livestock. We need to ban meatpackers from owning livestock, to level the playing field for family farmers.
  • Protect the future of non-GE crops with the Tester amendment on seeds and breeds. More and more, agriculture research is controlled by corporations who are focused on expanding their genetically engineered crops. Every year farmers are left with fewer choices of seeds that are not genetically engineered. This amendment would guarantee that non-GE crops get a fair share of the research funds. At least 5% of research funding would have to go toward something other than genetically engineered crops.

Big corporations will be pushing for policies in the new Farm Bill that help their profit margin. Make sure your Senator knows that’s not what our country needs. 

It’s up to us to urge our Senators to protect small farmers, and consumers like you, in the Farm Bill, not pave the way for more industrialization of our food. If these policies are put in place, we could make progress toward a more equitable food system. Tell your Senators that you demand their strong leadership for a Fair Farm Bill.

ACT NOW: Farm Bill to the Senate Floor this Week!

Jun5

Re-posted fron Healthy Food Action

Keep up the fight for a healthier Farm Bill, Senators need to hear from the health community as floor debate begins!

Any day now the Senate will begin floor debate of the Agriculture, Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.

In a recent national poll, 78 percent of Americans said that making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and accessible should be a top priority in the Farm Bill. Unfortunately, the current Senate version of the bill does not go far enough in achieving that goal and they need to hear from the health community before it’s too late!

Please contact your Senator today by sending the letter below and ask them to:

* Resist any further cuts to conservation programs that support the clean air, water and soil in which our food is grown.

* Restore funding for SNAP (current proposed cut is $4.49 billion) and support Hunger-Free Community Incentive Grants to increase purchases by SNAP customers at farmers markets and other healthy food retailers.

* Vote for the Packer Ban (Grassley/Conrad amendment) to limit consolidation in the meat industry

* Support farm to school initiatives that would make the purchasing of local foods easier.

* Increase funding for the Community Food Projects Program and the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program to include development of food hubs.

* Support farmers of color, 20 percent of whom grow fruits and vegetables, by voting for the Udall Amendment to increase funding for the Outreach Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, which will also now benefit Veteran farmers and ranchers.

In order to address your message to the appropriate recipient, we need to identify where you are.
Please enter your zip/postal code:

Opening day!

Jun4

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market, June 2 at Garfield Park

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

South East Area Farmers’ Market opens Saturday June 2

May30

Come to Garfield Park next Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to celebrate the beginning of farmers’ market season right here on the southeast side! Market master, Yvonne Woodard of Our Kitchen Table (OKT) has vendors lined up for this small but satisfying market. These vendors will be selling chemical free produce that has been locally grown. It will be a small start as several of our regular vendors do not have produce ready yet.

The South East Area Farmers’ Market Gerald R Ford Middle School market will commence after school gets out, Friday June 15 from 2 to 7 p.m.

Both market locations participate in the following food programs: WIC Project FRESH, Market FRESH, and the Kent County WIC Pilot Project. Patrons are welcome to make their purchases with cash, checks, debit cards and EBT cards.

Those using EBT cards can get twice as much for their money with Double Up Food Bucks. For every dollar spent, $2 worth of produce can be purchased, up to $40 worth of food for $20 spent on an EBT card. That’s twice as much healthy nutrition for the dollar!

Social Justice was the focus of Health Equity Forum in Kent County

May21

This article is reposted from GRIID.org. OKT also had opportunity to attend this forum.

“The presenters … defined health inequity as: Differences in population health status and mortality rates that are systemic, patterned, unfair, unjust, and actionable, as opposed to random or caused by those who become ill.”

On Thursday, the Kent County Health Department, Healthy Kent 2020 and the Strong Beginnings Program hosted a forum to explore the root causes of health inequality in Kent County.

Quite often the focus of health care forums is about access or looking at just individual behavior as determinants of people’s poor health. At this forum, the focus was an investigation into the structural or systemic causes of poor health.

To facilitate this conversation, the Kent County Health Department invited two staff members of the Ingham County Health Department, Dr. Renee Canady and Doak Bloss. Canady and Bloss have been doing social justice focused health analysis at their health department and facilitating workshops across the state in recent years.

The presenters expressed the importance of finding new language when talking about health inequality in America. They defined health inequity as:

Differences in population health status and mortality rates that are systemic, patterned, unfair, unjust, and actionable, as opposed to random or caused by those who become ill.

The co-facilitators then looked at the various determinants of health inequality in the US and said that things like housing, transportation, education, job security, access to health foods and a living wage were some of the determinants.

The presenters said that this was a radical departure from the traditional view of public health, which is often limited to individual behavior. However, they emphasized that class, gender and racial privilege often prevent people from seeing the systemic causes of health inequity.

It was quite refreshing to hear presenters talk about class oppression and globalization as major factors in determining people’s health. The presenters even used the language of the Occupy movement and referred to the 1% versus the 99%.

After the main presenters discussed social justice and health inequity, a staff member of the Kent County Health Department then presented data on health disparities in Kent County.

The data presented information on how many adults and children were living in poverty in Kent County, with a breakdown along racial lines. There was also data on infant mortality rates, morbidity and geographical significance.

It was clear from the data presented that there were large pockets of poor neighborhoods that were disproportionately Black and Hispanic that had greater health inequality. Blacks and Hispanics children have a higher rate of living in poverty and infant mortality rates are higher than for White children. The data also showed that poor & minority communities are 6 times more likely to report 14 or more days a year of poor health, 3 times more likely to have diabetes and 8 times more likely to have heart disease.

The social justice and health inequity forum concluded with individual tables having discussion about the information presented and how those in the health care community need to respond to the systemic injustice that exists in Kent County. However, it was recognized that the organizations in the room needed to begin with the recognition of systemic and root causes of health disparities and then develop strategies to confront the systems that maintain these disparities.

Weekly events planned for Southeast Area Farmers’ Market

May15

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market will offer more than fresh produce this year. Our Kitchen Table (OKT), the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council (GGRFSC) and the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) will take turns hosting fun, educational events throughout the market season.

  • OKT will host do-it-yourself workshops on making wine, making soap, urban food foraging and brewing beer from homegrown hops.
  • The KCHD plans on bringing in staff members to share about the animal shelter, various preventive health issues and healthy eating.
  • The GGRFSC will host children’s arts and crafts activities, provide information on the dangers of genetically modified foods and hold question and answer sessions on the 2012 Farm Bill, which determines the budget for SNAP (food stamps) and local farm initiatives.

In addition, OKT is inviting local chefs to do hands-on, healthy food cooking demos—and working on some surprise celebrity appearances. Plus, market manager Yvonne Woodard will ensure that music and dancercise continues as a weekly activity.

As the market season progresses, OKT hopes to line-up even more fun and informative activities for market days. After all, the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is more than a place to stop for produce, it’s a place where neighbors come together, make friends and build community.

Trash and Burn Compost? Take action today.

May10

This is a repost from WMEAC

Trash and Burn Compost? 

Michigan may soon be disposing of yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, in landfills rather than composting facilities if House Bills 4265 and 4266 are passed by the Senate and signed into law.  Having already passed the Michigan House, next Tuesday, May 15, they will be taken up by the Senate Energy and Tech Committee.

Take Action

Tell Committee Chairman Nofs you oppose HB 4265 and 4266 and ask him to instead support programs and policies that increase composting and recycling within Michigan.

In 1995 Michigan banned the disposal of yard waste in landfills, thereby reducing the need for new landfill sites and encouraging greater use of composting, turning yard waste into nutrient rich humus. Organic material such as yard trimmings, food scraps and paperboard continue to make up the largest portion of municipal solid waste in the United States. Of this waste, approximately 13 percent, 33 million tons per year, is made up of yard waste and trimmings.

Disposing of yard trimmings in landfills wastes resources and potentially increases greenhouse gas emissions through increased methane production.  By burying organic waste, nutrients that could have been reused to improve the health of the soil and plants are essentially being locked away.

The methane produced by the anaerobic decomposition of yard waste in landfills is supposed to be harnessed to generate electricity, but it is estimated that approximately 25 percent of the methane generated will escape.

Bills Will Cost Michigan Jobs

Finally, the reduction of yard waste composting will likely cost Michigan jobs.  It’s estimated that four composting jobs are created for every 10,000 tons per year of compostable material compared to one job for landfilling or incinerating the same material.

McDonald’s Greenwashing Campaign in Michigan

May10

“We see it as green-washing and a destructive affront on the local food system … good food is going to waste. We can’t be deceived simply because they are buying from local farmers.” Lisa Oliver-King, OKT

This post by org

Yesterday, news media outlets all covered Michigan Governor Snyder’s visit to Conklin, Michigan as part of a press conference promoting McDonald’s contribution to the state’s economy.

The news coverage for the most part just presented the claims of Snyder and McDonald’s, with little investigation into the claim that the fast food giant’s decision to buy more Michigan produce for McDonald’s as a benefit to the local economy. While, much of the commentary focused on the local aspect of this effort, it tended to ignore the contradictions.

Snyder used the opportunity to promote the idea that Michigan sells products all around the world and he sees what McDonalds as doing is giving the state a profile for more exports. If Michigan does export more of the produce grown here, then it undermines other states and communities own ability to create locally based economies, despite this being one of the main themes of the press conference.

Even Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow bought into the McDonald’s campaign. Stabenow posted a message on her website that read in part, “It is great that McDonald’s is buying Michigan-grown fruits, eggs, and milk-supporting Michigan farmers who are producing quality products. With its ‘From Michigan For Michigan’ campaign, McDonald’s is continuing its commitment to Michigan and our agricultural industry. When we grow things and make things in Michigan, we create jobs in Michigan.”

The general consensus from so many sectors is interesting in that it demonstrates both a lack of historical knowledge about what the fast food giant has done and how effect greenwashing is in this era of green capitalism.

If people are not familiar with the history of McDonald’s they might want to read Eric Schlosser’s booksFast Food Nation and Chew on This. Another great resource is the film McLibel, which deals with the longest legal case in British history, where the McDonald’s corporation goes after 2 activists for handing out leaflets to people about what is wrong with the fast food company. The major arguments are: 1) McDonald’s engages in deceptive advertising that targets children, 2) treats their workers poorly, 3) contributes to environmental destruction on a mass scale, 4) promotes cruelty to animals and 5) promotes poor nutrition.

McDonald’s Farm to Front Counter campaign is a classic example of greenwashing in that it is both tapping into a growing interest in people to eat “local” food and a public relations response to the scrutiny put on the fast food/junk food industries for their role in the epidemic of childhood obesity.

Local Responses

As we mentioned earlier in the article, most of the reporting on the McDonald’s Michigan campaign did not provide news consumers with many critical voices. The MLive story from yesterday did include a critical response to the McDonald’s greenwash campaign, with a comment from the Boston-based group Corporate Accountability International, which just produced a report entitled, Slowing Down Fast Food.

We talked with two local food justice organizations about their take on the announcement of the new McDonald’s campaign.

Lisa Oliver King with the Grand Rapids group Our Kitchen Table responded by saying, “We see it as green-washing and a destructive affront on the local food system. Regardless of the fact that these foods will be supplied by local agriculture, they will still be fried and have tons of salt added. The cooking approach has not changed. So, good food is going to waste. We can’t be deceived simply because they are buying from local farmers.”

We also spoke with Cynthia Price, with the group the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, which produced a Local Food Guide for West Michigan. Price said, “We’ll never move to a sustainable food, or economic, system as long as we rely on corporations like McDonalds to rehash locally grown ingredients and spit them out again as national, or even international, commodities. Only by relearning local food self-reliance will we be able to develop a just and balanced human-scale food system, and, for that matter, establish a stable base for a truly viable economy that values people and place and not just profits.”