Foodies, Farmers, and Friends! A Fulton Street Farmers Market Fundraiser

We are pleased to be a part of this fundraising event for the Fulton Street Farmers Market renovations.  We will have an information booth at the event.  If you'll be in attendance, stop by and say hello!

Tuesday, June 22
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Mason Jones in Gaslight Village

Click here for more information.

Upcoming Gardening Workshops (Feb. 17, Mar. 17, Apr. 14)

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Barry County is hosting a series of upcoming gardening workshops.

The first workshop will be held on February 17 on the topic of sustainable gardening. This introductory workshop will cover soil properties, soil communities, site selection, organic soil preparation, cover crops, and crop rotation to support soil fertility.

Additional workshops include:

• Backyard vegetable gardening -- March 17
• Backyard fruit gardening -- April 14

For more information, click here.

Fall on the Farm with Local First at Grassfields (10/16/10)

Enjoy a full afternoon of family-friendly fun and activities during "Fall on the Farm" with Local First at Grassfields Farm. The event will be held on Saturday, October 16, from 11:00-3:00.

Bring the whole family and enjoy:

• Delicious, fall-inspired food and treats from local farmers.
• Pumpkin painting.
• Wagon rides
• Family activities.
• Guided tours of the farm and creamery.

Space is limited, so please RSVP. Ticket price is $12 for adults and $6 for young children.

Visit www.grassfieldscheese.com or call (616)997-1306 for questions.

Grassfields Farm Tour -- August 7

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE: The correct date for this tour is August 7.

Grassfields will be holding a farm tour on Saturday, August 7, at 10:00 a.m.

Location: Grassfields Farm -- 14238 60th Ave., Coopersville, MI 49404.

Charge: $3.50/person, kids under 2 are free.

RSVP: Click here to email your RSVP. Please include how many people will be attending.

Perks: The tour will include a wagon ride tour of the farm land, seeing the cows, calves and pigs, watch cheese making, taste organic raw milk cheese samples and see the cheese shop where they sell grass-fed meats.

Details: Grassfields is a West Michigan Co-op producer. This family-owned and operated farm has been in the family since the late 1800s. In 1992 they switched from confinement dairying to intensive rotational grazing. They enjoy watching their happy animals munching on the grass all summer long, and enjoying the outdoors, even in snow! (They have shelter if they need it, but they prefer to be outside!) In 2002, they decided to start making raw-milk cheese (Grassfields is the first place in Michigan licensed to make and sell raw milk cheese), and now offer seven different varieties of cheese, along with pastured poultry, eggs, beef, and pork. The meats are available at their on-farm store in Coopersville. In the spring of 2007, Grassfields was certified organic! Their cheeses are all certified organic, and better yet, made from raw milk from grass-fed cows! The meats and eggs are steroid, hormone, and antibiotic-free.

Farm to Table Dinner - A Slow Food Potawatomi/Tilling to Table Event

Come and share a seasonal meal in the setting of beautiful Lubbers Family Farm. The bounty from our local farmers will be used to create tantalizing dishes for you to enjoy. Meet the farmers whose hard work helps to put food on our tables.

August 1st at 6:00

Lubbers Family Farm - O-862 Luce Street SW, Grand Rapids.

The working menu is as follows:

Amuse bouche
Celery and mushroom phyllo pouch with a blueberry balsamic reduction

Soup
Melon and cucumber gazpacho topped with a basil mint creme fraiche

Salad
Arugula and mustard greens with beets, red onion, cilantro and goat cheese tossed in a apple cider-honey vinaigrette

Appetizer
Grilled trout over a polenta cake with a tomato ragu

Entree
Herb crusted pork tenderloin a top a red pepper cassoulet

Intermezzo
Sparkling raspberry sorbet

Dessert
Peach cobbler with ginger ice cream

Please bring your choice of beer or wine.

This event requires a reservation. Cost is $50 per person. Click here too reserve your spot.

Slow Food Book Club

The next meeting of the Slow Food Book Club will be held on Monday, July 26, at 6:30.

The book to read is any book by Marcella Hazan -- Amarcord - Marcella Remembers and Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant are recommended, along with any of her cookbooks. Kent District Library has many copies of these books available.

The food theme for the meeting will be Italian.

To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please contact Viola.

Happy Reading!

Learn About Cheese from a Master Cheesemaker at Dancing Goat Creamery

Dancing Goat Creamery presents a series of Wednesday nights where they will sample and discuss some great cheeses. Questions regarding cheese will be answered....interesting and fun discussions facilitated by Master Cheesemaker Barbara Jenness. Come and relax and talk cheese. Starting time is 6:00 p.m. at Dogwood Farm - 10385 Wilson Ave. SW, Byron Center.

Schedule:
July 21 - The Best of the Best (American Cheese Society Best of Show winners)
Aug. 4th - What's Gouda for you, is Gouda for me (goudas)
Aug. 18 - TBA
Sept. 1 - TBA
Sept. 15 - TBA
Sept. 29 - TBA
Oct. 13 - TBA

Other topics for remaining dates to be announced.

Tickets must be purchased for this event. Click here to purchase tickets.

Any questions, please contact Veronica or Barb.

Local Food Event: A Midsummer Night Green

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings is holding a fundraising event on Saturday, July 17, which will highlight local food and drinks, including products from several of our Co-op producers.

Details from the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute's web site:

Take part in this fundraising event and enjoy a magical evening of delicious food, entertainment, camaraderie, and gain a better understanding of the local food movement. You will leave with tips on how to shop local, grow your own food, and other ways to eat healthier, not only for you, but also for Mother Nature.

Roam the Visitor Center for a strolling dinner, and treat yourself to savory and delectable delights at food stations throughout the building. Menu items, prepared by Chef Richard Centala, will feature the freshest fare provided by local farms and vendors.

Guests can sample handcrafted beer from local micro-breweries and wines from Cascade Winery in Grand Rapids. There will also be a silent auction benefiting Pierce Cedar Creek Institute with fun and unique items. Summer Dress Casual attire.

Participating Co-op producers include Crane Dance Farm, Creswick Farm, Dancing Goat Creamery, and Mooville Ice Cream.

Date: Saturday, July 17
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: 701 West Cloverdale Road, Hastings, MI 49058
Cost: Institute members - $50; future members - $65 (future member price includes a discounted individual membership). Cost includes two tickets to sample beer or wine.

For more information and to register for the event, visit the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute web site.

Local First Street Party

Last year, 10,000 people attended the Local First Street Party in downtown Grand Rapids.

Don't miss this year's party! It's free, open to the public, and will be held on Saturday, June 12, from 4:00 to midnight in front of Bistro Bella Vita (44 Grandville Ave., Grand Rapids, 49503). There will be local food, beer, wine, and music (featuring The Verve Pipe).

West Michigan Co-op will be there handing out water with Local First. If you're planning to stop by the party, please considering volunteering for shift to help out the Co-op. We need volunteers to cover three shifts from 4:00-6:00, 6:00-8:00, and 10:00-midnight. Please email Lisa if you can volunteer.

Community Food Forum

The Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council is organizing an upcoming Community Food Forum. Here's what you need to know --

When: May 15 8:45am - Noon.

Where: Heart of West Michigan United Way -- 118 Commerce Ave. SW, downtown Grand Rapids.

Who: Open to anyone who comes.

What: This forum is for people to learn, share and discuss strategies and actions for a better food system.

Details: Key topic areas include healthy food, food accessibility for all, land use and agriculture, local food and economic development, and urban agriculture. More info at http://www.foodshed.net/communityfoodforum.html.

RSVP: Email ggrfsc@gmail.com or call Cynthia Price (231-670-6059) or Tom Cary at (616) 916-9823.

Volunteers Needed: April 21

On Wednesday, April 21, Samara Woods (a Clark Community) is holding its 2nd Annual Vital Living Celebration.

The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Cultural Center at St. Nicholas (2250 East Paris Ave., Grand Rapids).

West Michigan Co-Op will have a booth at this event. We are in need of volunteers to staff the booth during the following shifts: 11:00-1:00 and 1:00-3:00. If you are available to volunteer, please email Lisa.

Farmers' & Artisans' Market - this Saturday (April 17)

Grand Rapids Public Library is kicking off their Earth Week events this Saturday with a "Farmers' & Artisans' Market" from 10:00-3:00 at the West Leonard Branch of the library.

The Co-Op will have a booth at the market, so swing by the library to check out the goodies at the market and don't forget to stop at our booth and say hi!

Also, we need a couple of volunteers to staff our booth during the market. If you are able to volunteer from either 10:00-12:30 or 12:30-3:00, please click here to email Lisa.

For more information about the Farmers' & Artisans' Market, as well as the many more events that the library has to offer during Earth Week, please click here.

"Fresh"

Aquinas College is airing a showing of "Fresh" at Wege Ballroom (on campus) tonight -- April 7 -- at 7 pm. This is the followup to "Food, Inc." and will be accompanied by the requisite round table discussion.

Everyone is invited. A $2 donation is suggested.

The Co-Op is co-sponsoring the event so come out and hang out with some fellow foodies.

Local First - Eat Local Challenge Dinner - September 17

What: Come follow your food from farm to plate, experience live cooking demonstrations, meet some of the best chefs in town and the farmers they work with, enjoy local, seasonal food and celebrate Michigan beer and wine. Many of your favorite Grand Rapids venues will be present: Bar Divani, Bistro Bella Vita, Patricia's Chocolates, and more!

When: Thursday, September 17 from 5:30 -9:30 PM

Where: San Chez Bistro (38 Fulton SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

Tickets: $25. Click here for tickets.

Grand Rapids Water Festival

The Water Festival will take place on Saturday, June 20, at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids.

This festival celebrates the water that surrounds us here in Michigan and includes live music, speakers, workshops, and more. Come check it out!

For more information about the Grand Rapids Water Festival, please click here.

Local First Street Party

Local First's 6th Annual Street Party will take place on Saturday, June 13, beginning at 4:00 p.m. in front of Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids.

Over 12,000 people are expected to attend this celebration of local food, local beer, and local music. Don't miss it!

For more information about the Street Party, and to view the band line-up, please click here.

Saugatuck Green Food Bluegrass Tickets Go On Sale

The following is a Press Release regarding the Green Food Bluegrass festival. The West Michigan Co-op is a sponsor of this event - many (if not most) of the foods served at the festival will be grown by our WMCo-op farmers.

Friends of the Felt Estate invite you, your friends, and your family to a bluegrass festival at the Felt Mansion on Sunday, July 19. Enjoy locally grown picnic fare as you listen to some of Michigan’s finest bluegrass bands.

The music begins at one o’clock with Full Cord and continues all afternoon with a new group taking the stage at the top of each hour: Who Hit John? at 2:00, Nobody’s Darlin’ at 3:00, Ruth and Max Bloomquist Band at 4:00, and Detour at 5:00. We invite you to stay for the main event at 6:00: the long awaited, much anticipated reunion of bluegrass legends Cabbage Crik. The band members may look a bit different these days, but a performance 30 years in the making is not to be missed! Judging from the sounds of their most recent rehearsal, they have only gotten better with time.

With all this good music and fresh air, you’re sure to have an appetite. Local vendors will be on hand to serve you food proudly grown by the farmers of the West Michigan Co-op. With everything from grilled chicken, bratwurst, pulled pork sandwich, or veggie pita, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What about your thirst on a hot summer afternoon? New Holland Brewing Company, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Miller and Miller Lite, Fenn Valley Winery, and Corkscrews Winery are there to help you out. The Hudsonville High School Water Polo Team will also be sponsoring a tent stocked with non-alcoholic beverages.

Tickets for the first annual Saugatuck Green Food Bluegrass Festival go on sale Friday, May 1^st. You can buy tickets online (http://www.feltmansion.org/) or by visiting the Saugatuck-Douglas CVB, or the Holland Area CVB. Remember: buying tickets in advance saves you money as does packing your vehicle with four or more people!

All proceeds from the Green Food Bluegrass festival benefit the restoration and the LEED certification process for the Felt Estate. For more details about the event, and to purchase tickets, visit: www.feltmansion.org and click on the Green Food Bluegrass box. See you on Sunday, July 19!

Earth Day Celebration at Aquinas College

The Earth Day Celebration at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids will be held on Wednesday, April 22^nd. The public is welcome to attend. Events will include a Farmer’s Market and a concert by Breathe Owl Breathe.

Earth Day Farmer’s Market

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: In front of the Wege Center at Aquinas College

Breathe Owl Breathe Concert

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: The Moose Café (located on the first floor of the cook Carriage House) at Aquinas College.

Cost: $5

First Annual Master Grilling Cook-Off!

The first annual Master Grilling Cook-Off will take place at Modern Hardware in Grand Rapids on Saturday, June 13. Click here to read more about the event.

Interested in becoming involved in the event? They're currently in need of the following:

• 4-person grill teams
• Live music and entertainment
• Local artists
• Restaurants/food vendors
• Sponsors
• Judges

For more information, please contact Rod Glupker at (616) 241-2655 or (616) 291-9558 or by email.

Menu for the Future Discussion Course

Menu for the Future
Discussion Course

The act of putting into your mouth what the Earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the Earth. – Frances Moore Lappe

I recently took part in a fascinating course offered by the Earth Institute of West Michigan titled Menu for the Future. I met so many delightful people, had so much fun and learned so much about food that I want to share my experience with other West Michigan Food Coop members.

Our informal, small group (strangers to each other in the beginning) met for an hour and a half each week for 6 weeks to discuss readings from the course book. The course book is composed of articles, book excerpts and short essays organized in chapters around different food themes. The course is intended to promote dialogue, not consensus and allows each participant to bring their own unique perspectives, values and attitudes to the group.

Some of the topics reviewed and debated include: organic vs. local, pesticide protection, industrial agriculture, the value of diversity, additives in your kitchen, slow eating, sustainable food systems and making informed food choices. Because the atmosphere in our group was one of support, respect and trust, we were able to engage in lively discussions which allowed us to evaluate our personal lifestyle choices and the actions we wished continue or perhaps change. We laughed together often as our thoughts were expanded and we developed a sense of community with each other. We have decided to move on together as a group to discuss the Voluntary Simplicity course this fall.

Both of these courses were developed by Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) out of Portland, OR. The local sister institute, Earth Institute of West Michigan (EIWM), and NWEI offer these courses to inspire people to examine our relationship and responsibility for Earth. I found my initial experience so rewarding. I am choosing to take action by co-ordinating the next West Michigan Co-op’s Menu for the Future course this fall for those interested in exploring this tantalizing topic!

Please talk to me at the next coop pick-up date to sign-up for the course or to ask questions.

If you miss me there please email me at amy.heilman@sbcglobal.net

We would like to start one or more groups in September. For further information please log on to http://www.nwei.org/.

Amy Heilman
Member – West Michigan Co-op
616-682-4593