New City Farm to vend produce at Southeast Area Farmers Market

Feb7

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.

Help with your heating and electric bills

Jan15

The State of Michigan Low Income Home Energy Assistance program helps low-income households with energy needs. Help for high energy bills, shut offs, and home energy repairs is available to YOU.

Crisis Assistance

You are responsible for your heat and
electric costs, however there is assistance to help you, known as crisis assistance, through MDHHS.

First, you must understand how to read
your bills, be careful how you use energy, and keep your costs as low as possible to avoid shutoff. Reach out to your heat or electric provider as they may be able to assist. Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for help. Call them about setting up a payment plan before you get shut off.

If you are in danger of shutoff, MDHHS may be able to assist with crisis money. Complete an
application either online through MI Bridges or by completing a MDHHS-1171, Assistance Application along with the SER, supplemental form or DHS-1514, Application for State Emergency Relief. Paper applications are available at your local DHHS office.

Home Heating Credit

The Home Heating Credit helps low-income households with their heating expenses if they
are a qualified Michigan homeowner or renter.
The amount of credit is based on income,
household size, and heat cost. If you received a credit in the last year, an application will be mailed to you near the end of the year.

The Home Heating Credit application, MI-1040CR-7 is available at your local library, MDHHS office, community agencies or the Department of Treasury.
You must complete the application between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, or electronically when filing your tax returns. More information can be found at Home Heating Credit Information (Michigan.gov).

MLPP calls for Michigan lawmakers to keep kitchen table issues at the forefront of budget and policy

Jan10

The Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) issued the following statement on the State of Michigan’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) held today. MLPP president and CEO Monique Stanton shares:

“While revenues are coming in higher than expected for both the state’s General Fund and School Aid Fund, we are urging state lawmakers to keep in mind that there is a lot of uncertainty around how federal programs and funding will be impacted by the incoming administration at the federal level. Over the past few years, federal funding has made up more than 40% of Michigan’s budget, leaving our state’s economic standing particularly vulnerable if future cuts to federal revenue sources are made.

In these uncertain times, it’s critically important to remain focused on the people of Michigan and the things they need most. That means keeping kitchen table issues like healthcare and prescription drug costs, access to healthy and affordable food, strong education systems, child care access and affordability, and housing and utility costs at the forefront of budget and policy discussions in the weeks and months ahead. 

These are the issues that remain top of mind for many Michigan families, especially the approximately 4 million Michigan households facing financial hardship and could be just one emergency or missed paycheck away from severe economic decline. These are also the issues that remain critically important for the more than 2.1 million children in Michigan—nearly 1 in 5 of whom are living in poverty. Each and every child growing up in our state today needs and deserves to have a safe place to live, healthy food on the table, a strong education, and the quality early child care and healthcare they need to get a good start in life and grow up healthy and strong.

Given this morning’s projections, we also want to caution our state lawmakers not to heed calls for tax cuts, which we know will largely benefit the wealthiest Michiganders. Now is not the time to slash state revenues that are vital to helping communities flourish and to lifting up and providing stability for families who are struggling to make ends meet.”

MLPP recently released an overview of its 2026 State Budget Priorities, which have been developed by pairing community input with the League’s own data and research. The priorities are centered around what a state’s budget should value most: its people. For this reason, it is called The People’s Budget. The League urges state lawmakers and leaders to use The People’s Budget as a roadmap for their budget and policy decisions in the year ahead.

2024 was a good year for Our Kitchen Table

Jan1

Thanks to the support of our food growers, market patrons, market vendors, and the schools hosting food gardens, OKT had another good year of growing and sharing fresh, local, healthy fruits, vegetables and herbs. As food prices rise, “growing your own” is an even more powerful way to feed our families and create an alternate to a broken food system that is focused on profits not health.

Southeast Area Farmers Market marked 20 years

In addition to Ms. Yvonne (right), who has been with the market all 20 years, 2024 saw Moore’s Family Garden and Farm vending fresh produce grown in Muskegon. The Grand Rapids Food Coop and UMCH Fresh Market also brought fresh fruits and veggies every week. However, everyone’s favorite vendor was Jazae (above), a ten-year-old grower who is saving up for medical school, with help from her granny.

In 2024, OKT maintained food gardens at Glenwood Elementary School in Kentwood and Campus Elementary School in Grand Rapids. 

With direction from OKT peer garden coach Belinda Henderson, families who chose to were provided with organic food plants, soil, containers or raised beds, and coaching so they could grow their own food at home. All food plants were grown by Blandford Farm.

OKT wishes you and yours a happy, healthy, full-of-good-food 2025!

The risk of famine persists across the whole Gaza Strip.

Dec25
Dove and Olives print by Caitlin Boyce-Jensen.

Reposted from World Food Program

Given the recent surge in hostilities, there are growing concerns that this worst-case scenario may materialize.

Violence has displaced nearly 2 million people, decimated livelihoods, crippled food systems, destroyed 70 percent of crop fields, severely restricted humanitarian operations and resulted in the collapse of health services and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) systems.

Catastrophic acute food insecurity and concerning acute malnutrition levels will continue to prevail if the conflict continues, and humanitarian activities are restricted.

OKT featured in Why Hunger video

Dec17

“From Security to Sovereignty: How Black Food Sovereignty Heals Local Food Systems and Economies.”

The Southeast Area Farmers Market and OKT’s growers are featured in this video produced by WhyHunger.

WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by the late musician Harry Chapin and Radio DJ Bill Ayres on the fundamental belief that access to nutritious food is a human right and hunger is a solvable problem in a world of abundance. What began as a simple commitment between two friends to make a difference has grown into a global non-profit, celebrating over 40 years of supporting social movements and grassroots innovations to change the systems, policies and institutions that perpetuate hunger and poverty in our world. WhyHunger has proven that change is possible and that justice can prevail.

House Passes Legislation to Protect Kids from Lead Exposure 

Dec11

The Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation to protect children from lead exposure. The three-bill package updates the law to allow for more children exposed to lead to receive the proper treatment and help they need.

Lead poisoning especially impacts infants and children’s growing bodies and brains, causing developmental delays and behavioral problems, including aggression. Lead comes to the 49503 and 49507 neighborhoods via the soil, housing with lead paint, and possibly via the water supply, when old lead pipes are still in service. Here’s a breakdown of foods that can help:

  • Iron-rich foods: Deep green leafy vegetables like collards, mustard greens, kale, spinach; legumes (pinto, navy, black, and adzuki beans etc. and red lentils); raisins and dried prunes; meat.
  • Calcium rich foods: In addition to dairy, tuna, salmon, seeds (poppy, celery, chia and sesame), almonds, beans and lentils (legumes), and dark leafy greens (see above).
  • Vitamin C-rich foods: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, strawberries, kiwi fruit, kale, and mustard greens.

Cooking in an iron skillet and eating a vitamin C food along with an iron rich food helps the body absorb even more iron.

HB 5368, sponsored by state Rep. Julie M. Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), revises the definition of “elevated blood lead level” to the lowest number of micrograms per deciliter recognized by experts.

“As a practicing physical therapist, I have firsthand knowledge of the dangers that lead exposure can cause and have personally rehabilitated patients with balance and cognitive impairments traced to lead poisoning,” Rogers said. “There is no lead level in blood which can be considered safe … House Bill 5368 would bring Michigan in line with the new blood lead reference value by adopting the 3.5 micrograms per deciliter standard. All three bills are crucial to preventing lead poisoning, and if exposure does occur, the policy ensures that Michigan’s residents are connected with the resources they need as soon as possible.”

House Bill 4532, sponsored by state Rep. Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids), updates various lead provisions in statute and allows Michigan to administer and enforce the federal regulations on lead abatement.

“Michigan families deserve a safe and healthy home, and our legislation is a major victory for families across our state who lack one,” Hood said. “This legislation will protect our kids from the dangers of lead poisoning by providing funds to remove lead from homes, ensuring every child has a fair chance at a healthy future.”

House Bill 5369, sponsored by state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit), requires a local health department or physician who is notified of a child less than 3 years old with an elevated blood lead level to refer that child to the Early On program, an early intervention program for children who need extra support and help because they have a development delay or pre-existing health issues that could slow their development

“Lead exposure continues to be a silent threat to the health and development of our children. By ensuring that children with elevated blood lead levels are connected to critical early intervention services like the Early On program, we are taking important steps toward protecting their future,” Whitsett said. “This package will help ensure that Michigan’s youngest residents get the support they need to thrive and prevent lifelong health consequences.”