How to Plan Your Food Garden6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 29
Garfield Park Lodge
334 Burton St. SE 49507
Free “how-to” garden class tonight!
How to Plan Your Food Garden6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 29
Garfield Park Lodge
334 Burton St. SE 49507
How to Plan Your Food Garden6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 29
Garfield Park Lodge
334 Burton St. SE 49507
Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Summer Celebration Saturday
West Michigan Jewels of Africa Traditional African Dance and Drum Troop wowed the crowd at the market’s 2014 Summer Celebration.
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market hosts its Summer Celebration Saturday June 27 during market hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.. Special activities include live music, cooking demos featuring “Easy Salad Dressings,” a noon performance by the West Michigan Jewels of Africa Traditional African Dance and Drum Troop and live music by guitarist, Eddie Killowatts.
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market also operates 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. Both locations warmly welcome Bridge cards (SNAP), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards.Market patrons making purchases with Bridge Card/SNAP can sign up on site for Double Up Food Bucks—and receive $1 for each $1 dollar spent on Michigan produce, up to $20 for buying more Michigan produce each market visit
Though the market might look small, its vendors offer a nice the variety of locally grown produce and craft items. Come July, when the growing season is well underway, vendors will have much more fresh local produce for sale.
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is sponsored by Kent County Health Department, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council & Our Kitchen Table, market managers.
Women of Color Convening Thursday June 25
What Does Our Southeast Neighborhoods’ Food System Look Like?
Women of Color Convening
6 – 8 p.m. Thursday June 25
Brown Hutcherson Ministries
618 Jefferson SE 49503
Have you heard people call our southeast side neighborhoods a food desert? Do you know why this is not a true picture of our foodscape? Let’s share information and insights that can help us discover how to create better access to healthy foods in our neighborhoods. OKT’s executive director, Lisa Oliver-King, will facilitate the dialogue. Our cooking coach, Ms. Toni Scott, will prepare and serve nutritious (delicious!) refreshments for this free event–succotash and ginger bubbly tea. Recipes available to take home!
Visit OKT at the Strawberry Jamboree!
See you there!
Farmers’ Market this Friday 3 to 7 p.m. & Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.!
Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opening days are Friday & Saturday June 19 & 20. The market operates at two locations through November 14:
- Fridays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. - Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE.
Neighbors love walking to the market, picking up fresh, locally grown produce and chatting with each other and the market vendors and staff. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use the fruits and veggies you pick up!
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards. If you make a purchase with a Bridge Card,you get $1 for every $1 you spend to buy more Michigan produce (up to $20 each visit).
FREE Mobile Food Pantry at LINC Thursday
LINC is collaborating with Feeding America West Michigan (FAWM) to host a FREE Mobile Food Pantry for our local community members.The FAWM Mobile Pantry is like a farmer’s market on wheels, providing fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, & dietary staples straight to the community. Each pantry provides about 3 days’ worth of supplemental food for 100-200 people. In addition, we are looking for volunteers to help run the event. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Willie at 616.451.9140 or willie@lincrev.org .Join us Thursday at the LINC Gallery!
OKT offering free Food Justice Primer Monday evening, June 15
Food Justice Primer
Monday June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Garfield Park Lodge
334 Burton St. SE 49507
For 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 healthier foods in many ways has become mainstream. However, for people experiencing income challenges or living in neighborhoods of color, access to these healthier foods is not a reality. A true food apartheid exists in our community—and that’s where the work of food justice begins.
If you want to know more about that work—or become involved in it yourself—please join us for this brief introduction to food justice. OKT team member, Stelle Slootmaker, will facilitate an informal dialogue on the principles of food justice with group input on how we can practice it locally.
Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opens June 19
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2015 season on Friday June 19, 3 – 7 p.m., at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE. and Saturday June 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison SE. The market is managed by Our Kitchen Table (OKT). The market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks ,WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT and debit cards.
As part of a Fair Food Network pilot project and in cooperation with the Kent County Health Department, OKT has been signing people up for 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 Southeast Area Farmers’ Market has an exciting line-up of market activities on its 2015 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:
Cooking Demos: June 26, 27, July 24, 25, Aug. 21, 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 7.
June 27 Summer Celebration DJ & fun activities- July 10 & 11 Urban Foraging Workshop
- July 31 & Aug.1 Make Your Own Personal Care Items Workshop
- Sept. 5 Urban Foraging Workshop
- Sept. 19 Art at the Market
- Oct. 10 Greens Cook-off & Fried Green Tomato Festival
- Oct. 17 World Food Day Activities
- Oct. 31 Fall Celebration
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is sponsored by Kent County Health Department, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council & OKT, market managers.
Look for OKT at Rock the Block!
Going to Rock the Block? Stop by and chat with our team members at the OKT information table–while you’re at it, pick up some good reads on food justice and gardening!
Join the fun! Eat good food!
Cook, Eat & Talk
6 – 8 p.m. Monday June 8
Brown-Hutcherson Ministries
618 Jefferson SE, 49503.
Join OKT cooking coaches for a fun and informative evening of cooking, sharing ideas and tasting healthy, delicious dishes! Emphasis will be on in-season produce and inexpensive yet nutritious options that are easy to make for yourself and your family. Although OKT hosts its Cook, Eat & Talks to show its gardening program participants how to make use of their garden produce, this free event is open to all community members at no charge.
This is the fifth year OKT has hosted monthly Cook, Eat & Talk events as part of its Food Diversity Project, which is funded by a grant from the w K Kellogg Foundation.
Our Kitchen Table 