The Week of May 7th, 2012 Read/Post Comments

Brought to you by Earthworks Urban Farm,
a program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen

Peace everyone,

It’s time for the weekly reflection:

The Midwest Migrant Stream of farmworkers
is the largest of the three major migrant streams.
Picture credit: Illinois Migrant Council.

Michigan grows an incredible variety of crops, second only to California in crop diversity. Michigan ships over $1 billion of goods to countries like Mexico, Canada, Japan, Korea, and Germany.

This feat would not be possible without the necessary labor or skills to sustain it. The Midwest Migrant Stream represents tens of thousands of migrant farm workers that follow the seasons, from farm to farm, harvesting, processing and packing food that eventually ends up on our dinner tables.

What is the human cost of our food?

Please send your thoughts to earthworks@cskdetroit.org. We want to hear from you!

Remember to also:
1. Follow us on twitter! Our twitter handle is @EarthworksDet.
2. Keep up with us on Facebook found here http://on.fb.me/earthworksurbanfarm

See you soon!

I. Volunteer Opportunities for the week of 5/7/2012:
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm; Regular Volunteer Hours: Join us after volunteering for lunch in the soup kitchen during the week.

All volunteers, please meet at Capuchin Soup Kitchen at 1264 Meldrum, Detroit, MI unless noted differently. For individual volunteers, feel free to just come on by. No need to RSVP. For groups, please contact us in advance to schedule a day. Please come dressed appropriately for the weather and work. Long pants and closed toe shoes are required.

For info, please contact us at sbernardo@cskdetroit.org or call (313) 579-2100 x 204.

II. Community Announcements:
1. Detroit Food Policy Council Events

Community Food Justice Work Group
Eastern Market Corporation 2934 Russell, Detroit, MI
Monday, May 7th, 2012
6 p.m.
The Community Food Justice Work Group will be talking with the grocery store community and planning a forum discussion with grocery store owners.

Detroit Food Policy Council General Meeting
Eastern Market Corporation 2934 Russell, Detroit, MI
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
5:30 p.m.
At the general meeting we will hold elections for the Executive Committee.

Agriculture Advocates Work Group
The Greening of Detroit 1418 Michigan, Detroit, MI
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
6 p.m.
The Agriculture Advocates Work Group will be helping Detroit citizens understand land use policy in preparation for the City Planing Commission's proposal of an urban agriculture ordinance.

Summit Planning Meeting
COLORS - Detroit 311 E. Grand River (Downtown Detroit, in Harmonie Park)
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
6 p.m.
Join the Summit Planing Committee to find out about volunteer opportunities at this year's Powering Up the Local Food System Summit.

Powering Up the Local Food System Summit
May 18-19th, 2012
Focus:HOPE Conference Center 1400 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48238

The annual summit of the Detroit Food Policy Council, is just 2 weeks away. You can register now. For more info, call (313) 833-0396 or go to: www.detroitfoodpolicycouncil.net.

2. 2012 MSU Student Organic Farm Hoophouse Workshop Series
Michigan State University Student Organic Farm 3291 College Rd, Holt, MI 48842

Are you interested in learning more about growing produce year-round using hoophouses?   Registration is now open for the 2012 MSU Student Organic Farm Hoophouse Workshop Series.

2012 Hoophouse Workshop Series·
May 8th: Hoophouse Warm Season Crops·
June 12th: Hoophouse Pricing & Marketing·
July 31st: Hoophouse Cool Season Crops·
September 11th: Hoophouse Irrigation, Insect & Disease Management

All workshops are from 1pm-5pm. Space is limited & is reserved for commercial farmers.

Single Workshop: $40 per participant, and $20 for an additional participant from the same farm.All Four Workshops: $125 for one participant, and $65 for an additional participant from the same farm.

Please register online today at http://www.hoophouse.msu.edu

Questions? Please contact Laura Haselhuhn: haselhu2@msu.edu, or 517.355.5191 ext 1408.

3. Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day w/American Indian Health & Family Services
AIHFS, 4880 Lawndale Street, Detroit.
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
4:30pm - 7:30pm

What do food, an open-mic and a bouncy house have to do with mental health? Lots if you are a child! ―We express our emotions in many ways. Our job as Behavioral Healthcare Providers is to help children and their families learn to communicate their emotions in healthy, balanced ways. This event highlights how emotional expression can be fun as well as meaningful,‖ said Tina Louise, Director of Healthcare and Recovery for AIHFS. Ashley Tuomi, Executive Director for AIHFS, added, ―Events that draw us together in celebration, especially celebration of children and their voices add to feelings of worth, love and support for a child. Those are tools they have to build great character and rebound from traumas.

AIHFS will host a celebration that includes art displays and performances, traditional native games and songs, food, face painting, crafts, and education on children’s mental health.

Contact: Nickole Fox at (313) 846-3718 ext. 1212

4. Film Screening: Gaining Ground
University of Michigan Detroit Center 3663 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48201
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
5pm - 9pm

Gaining Ground, a one-hour film that revisits Dudley Street, the extraordinary grassroots effort in the Boston area. 25 years ago the Dudley Street neighborhood lay in ruins due to redlining, arson and white flight. This film celebrates the 25th anniversary of the rebuilding of the neighborhood, and the challenges it still faces. Please join us.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Pat Miller at the Detroit Center, 313-593-4132.

5. Detroit Black Community Food Security Network Monthly Meeting
Detroit Black Community Food Security Network 3800 Puritan St. Detroit, MI
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
7pm - 9pm
FREE and open to the public.

The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network will hold its monthly meeting. This event occurs monthly, on the second Wednesday of January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Additional Info: (313) 345-3663.

6. Good Jobs, Green Jobs Midwest
Renaissance Center Detroit, MI
May 10-11th, 2012
$195 Registration

How do we ensure that clean energy technologies are manufactured here in the United States? How are cleaner, more efficient cars revitalizing the American auto industry and creating good jobs? We will explore the unique challenges and opportunities to creating good, green jobs in the Midwest. Registration is now open! http://www.greenjobsconference.org/detroit

7. Race & Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
The Westin Southfield 1500 Town Center, Southfield MI, 48075
Friday, May 11th, 2012
8am - 3pm
$75 Registration

In 1985, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report documenting the existence of health care disparities for minorities. In the years since the report, much has changed; however health care disparities continue to exist. The Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion is concerned about the disparity issue. Accordingly, we are bringing together national and local experts to provide a public education forum in order to understand the causes and effects of disparities, examine some of the efforts currently being used to address the issue and finally to commence a dialogue of collaboration. Participants will include representatives from health care providers, insurers, government, community health organizations, businesses and faith based organizations.

Fore more info, call Larry Jones at (313) 870-1500 x108 or visit: www.miroundtable.org/healthcaredisparities.htm.

8. Community Work Days at D-Town Farms (Ongoing)
14027 W. Outer Drive Detroit, MI 48239 (between Plymouth and Chicago)
Saturdays, 8am - noon
Sundays, 9am - noon

Volunteer at D-Town Farm! Join us every Saturday and Sunday from 8am to noon at the farm. Work clothes, work boots, gloves, brimmed hat, water, bug repellent, and a great attitude are strongly encouraged! For info, please call (313) 345-3663.

9. Kayak Demo Days
Elizabeth Park, Jefferson St., Trenton, MI 48183
Saturday, May 12th, 2012
11am - 3pm
FREE and open to the public.

Riverside Kayak Connection is presenting another Kayak Demonstration Day on the canal at Elizabeth Park in Trenton. Participants are invited to try out any or all of the kayaks that Riverside Kayak Connection has available. If there is a particular demo kayak you would like to try, please call RKC by Wednesday, May 9th to make sure we are bringing it along. Some age restrictions apply. Waivers must be signed to participate.

III. Jobs, Grants and RFPs

1. Policy Coordinator
East Michigan Environmental Action Council

2. Environmental Education Manager
Greening of Detroit

3. Summer Interns
Lafayette Greens

IV. Update from Patrick

I’m gonna keep the update short, as it's been a long week of work, and I need to get other stuff done.

We finally got some rain. Well timed, and enough, but not too much. After all the rain on Monday you would have thought that it was too wet to till, but because we were still pretty dry we (Mr. Howard) were able to get out, and the ground looks good after tilling. We won't be planting in the area for weeks, but better to be ahead for a change rather than behind.

The peas don't seem to have sprouted well at all, I dug around and can't really even find much seed in the row, so I don't know if we had errors with the seeder or if they were picked out by birds. We will be re-seeding this week in hopes of getting some pea crop, we had almost no peas last year, so I'm pretty intent on getting some this year. Most other crops look good, still a little early for germination of crops seeded the other week, but the well timed rain has made it so we don't have to water out in the fields. Potatoes still haven't sprouted, but I think they should be coming up this week given the rain. All the greens look great, we were donated some fertilizer by Detroit Farm and Garden to try out and report back to them, and am thinking we will do a little side dressing on the greens to see how that works.

Robbie and I and a small volunteer crew worked on flipping a couple of compost piles. It actually made really short work, flipping two piles in less than an hour and started sifting on another pile. Robbie is really quick at making compost, so he is pressuring us to flip piles and make more room.

The hoop house is doing well, we ripped out many of the spring greens, they were all starting to go to seed and it's time to make enough room for all summer crops to grow up big and strong.

With all the good rain, we did a good amount of weeding on the berries this week too.

Ok that's all you’re gonna get.

V. Outreach Update from Shane

Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the various privileges I have and what that means in terms of food justice work. Although I grew up only three blocks down from the soup kitchen, I’ve been afforded opportunities that many others in our neighborhood haven’t. Understanding this reminds me of these privileges and of my responsibility to use them to benefit others and especially those that need it the most.

Another thought that has been lingering around my head is what is the role of the rest of us that also have an extreme amount of privilege. By virtue of the weekly reflection above, these privileges are unearned as a result of another’s disadvantage. Which begs another question: “What is our responsibility when our lives have benefited from the demise of others?” For me, I continue to ask myself: “What does it mean for me to work and eat when others are hungry?”

These are issues and questions I often struggle with every day.

These questions have also been in the forefront on my mind due also to my activity as of late and especially the events I have been privileged to be a part of. Namely, fundraisers hosted by well-intentioned but also privileged and connected organizations and institutions.

It’s not my intent to publicly indict any of the individuals or organizations that helped coordinate the events. That would not be a productive use of energy. However, I often wonder where and how we can have these very frank and honest discussions about our responsibility as a community to address the systemic root causes around racial, social and economic inequity and chronic and concentrated poverty.

I know it a big question but hopefully the weekly reflection above and this conversation will help start some really good discussions that lead to action and justice.