Slow Food Potawatomi Convivium

I'm just discovering Slow Food. Slow Food is an organization that believes that pleasure and quality in everyday life can be achieved by slowing down, respecting the convivial traditions of the table and celebrating the diversity of the earth's bounty. From the spice of Cajun cooking to the delicious simplicity of produce at a farmers’ market; from animal breeds and heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables to handcrafted wine and beer, farmhouse cheeses and other artisanal products; these foods are a part of our cultural identity.

In essence, they believe in a food system that is good, clean and fair.

• Good: Naturally delicious food created with care from healthy plants and animals.


• Clean: Grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on ecosystems and biodiversity.


• Fair: Produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.

Thankfully, for us West Michiganders, there is a local chapter. The local chapter, Slow Food Potawatomi Convivium, just started up a blog. Their blog highlights all the cool events that they are putting together. They have put together some screening of The Real Dirt on Farmer John on June 3 and 5 at two Schuler's Books locations in GR. There is also a Garlic Festival and Tomato Tasting Weekend coming up.

Be sure to check out their blog. To join Slow Food or get more info, contact their president, Amy Sherman.

Library's Indoor Farmer's Market

A handful of West Michigan Coop sellers participated in the Grand Rapids Public Library's Indoor Farmer's Market during the Library's Earth Week Celebration.

The West Michigan Coop had a booth and were able to meet new people and talk with them about the importance of shopping for local food. The farmers also connected with a new audience and got to show off their stuff, like Dog Wood Farm's Goat Lady, Barbara Jenness, pictured on the left.

While people shopped, the Coop gave a presentation about the coop and how to get involved. Afterwards, the library showed some films on the impact large factory farms have had on the family run farm and the environment.

Hundreds of people came out and it was a huge success. Thanks again to everyone who participated, sold, and shopped!

Here's George and Shelia Wright from H&W Farms posing with all their goodies!



Betsy Meerman from Grassfields Cheese manned her booth all day handing out cheese samples and raw milk from their Green Pastures cow share program.