Sat. Nov. 9, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Sherman St. Church, 1000 Sherman St. SE, GR.
Join us for a fun informative time as baker and Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Vendor, Rose of Rose’s Delights, demonstrates how to bake pumpkin bread and other healthy desserts.
Here are photos from the October’s Plant, Cook and Eat. OKT Garden Coach Kelsey Hakeem taught participants all about garlic and sun chokes (Jerusalem artichokes).
Reposted from Grand Rapids Urban Forest Project
Well House will be preparing a new lot for an urban orchard and mushroom beds for community education and use. Friends of Grand Rapids Parks has provided a mini-grant to support the development of an community orchard within their neighborhood. Friends and Well House are asking for interested volunteers to lend a hand, join a community, and have a great time.
Asking volunteers to come when they can and stay as long as they’d like. Help us prep the site, plant the trees and spread mulch! If you’d like to be involved please contact Camilla, Well House Urban Gardener, at CAMILLA@WELLHOUSEGR.ORG or616.245.3910 or sign up at the VOLUNTEER CENTER.
Reposted from SeedFreedom.org
Join the European citizen’s appeal for SEED FREEDOM AND FOOD DEMOCRACY
This petition was launched on the 2nd October 2013 – Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary.
We are reminded that in the spirit of Gandhi, civil disobedience is necessary, when unjust laws undermine our common goods.
Seeds are a common good. They are a gift of nature and the result of centuries of hard work of farmers around the planet who have selected, conserved and bred seeds. They are the source of life and the first link in our food chain.
This common good is in danger. European legislation has been increasingly restricting access to seeds in the past decades, with industrial agriculture becoming the dominant model of farming. Only seed varieties which fit this model may be marketed in the EU. They must pass complicated and costly tests and registration procedures and their cultivation depends on chemicals. This legislation has dramatically reduced diversity of seed varieties which is seriously threatening our food security. Seeds are no longer in the hands of farmers and gardeners. A handful of global seed companies are controlling and monopolizing the market: The same six multinationals control 75% of all private sector plant breeding research; 60% of the commercial seed market and 76% of global agrochemical sales. (ETC Group).
The new legislative proposal of the European Commission is making things worse. It is further restricting and reducing agro-biodiversity and the free access to seeds for farmers and citizens, and encourages multinational seed companies to claim exclusive rights on the marketing of seeds. On the other hand seeds which carry a broad variety of pest resistance and the ability to adapt to climate change are increasingly excluded from the market or restricted to so called niche markets. This legislation not only affects Europe but the entire planet.
We firmly reject this seed monopoly law. At a time when the UN recognizes that the future of food is agro-ecological, local and diverse, the European Commission proposal will criminalize the growing and vibrant alternatives based on seed freedom and food democracy. At a time when consumers are making a choice for local, ecological, healthy, tasty, nutritious and chemical-free and GMO-free food, the proposed EU seed law is robbing consumers of their food freedom. 72% of the world’s food comes from small farms – We are not a niche – We are the future!
Make your voice heard!
Sign this appeal to:
“As long as the superstition remains that unjust laws must be obeyed, so long will slavery exist”. Mahatma Gandhi
Check out the slide show below!
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market annual Greens Cook-off and Fried Green Tomato Festival was a delicious success. Guest judges Darel Ross II, co-director of LINC, and Tony Jolliffi, from the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) determined the winners. Dishes were judged for flavor, presentation and wow factor. Market manager Kristin Blood awarded prizes at the market on Oct. 19.
In first place, Holly Bechiri won a gift certificate to Nourish Organic Market for her green tomato jam and homemade bread. Sharon Maddox took second place with collard and turnip greens grown in her family’s garden. Her prize is a private sewing lesson with Erica Millsbrook. In third place, Darlene Gibbons won a gift certificate to A Grand Skein with fresh collards grown in her own garden.
Throughout the competition, market patrons enjoyed sampling contest entries and fried green tomatoes prepared on the spot by market partner Cynthia Price of the Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council. Download a copy of our Fried Green Tomato Recipes cookbook here.
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Our Kitchen Table invites you to join us for this five week class that investigates the current food system and food policy, looks at food justice responses around the country and discusses what a food justice and food sovereignty movement in West Michigan could look like. This is the third time that OKT has engaged Jeff Smith of the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy to teach the class.
When you use a SNAP Bridge Card to shop for food at a participating farmers’ market, the amount of money that you spend is matched with Double Up Food Bucks. You can use these to buy fruits and vegetables that have been grown in Michigan (maximum $20 per day). If you do not spend all of your Double Up Food Bucks, you may save them for another day. The last day the program operates this year is Oct. 31.
The last day you can spend them at the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market is Saturday Oct. 26. The market takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gerald R Ford school, Madison Avenue just south of Franklin Street. (The Garfield Park Friday Farm Stand has already closed for the season.)
If you have Double Up Food Bucks leftover or want to take advantage of the program before it ends for the season, you can also visit other area participating farmers’ markets through the end of the month. Click here for a complete list of those markets and their open hours.
The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market meets only two more Saturdays: Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at Gerald R Ford Academy from 10 a.m. to 3 pm. The Friday Farmstand at Garfield Park will not be open any more this year. Enjoy these photos from the 2013 market year.
The Red Project Mobile Health Unit is at today’s market at Gerald R Ford Academy, Madison avenue just south of Franklin Street.According to the Red Project website,
“There an estimated 1,080 people living in Kent County with HIV. Approximately 260 of these people do not even know they have it – that means nearly 1 in 4 people who are infected are unaware. Talk to your partner about HIV and risk reduction options … and get tested. Also for other infections, like one can do chlamydia urine test here and mauch more… The Grand Rapids Red Project believes everyone should have access to knowledge and tools available to prevent HIV infection, and the treatment necessary to live with it, no matter who they are or where they are…HIV disproportionately affects communities of color, and other traditionally undeserved and marginalized populations. In 2011, while African Americans accounted for only 9% of the population in Kent County, they accounted for 34% of all HIV/AIDS cases… To Learn more, contact us. Or connect with us on Social Media at Facebook: REDProjectGR.”
Join the urban farmers at Well House, 600 Cass Ave. SE, for a workshop on how to make and can applesauce. The workshop takes place at 6 p.m. Monday Oct. 21. Participants will can regular and spiced applesauce and take a jar home.
The suggested donation is $20 for this workshop, but Well House welcomes everyone, even if they can’t contribute. Funds collected help sustain Well House’s Urban Garden Project.
Please register by sending an e-mail to contact@wellhousegr.org or calling 616.245.3910.
Our Kitchen Table 