The Week of November 7th, 2011Read/Post Comments

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

Peace everyone,

Permaculture principles can help inform a path intended to make better use of human input and less use of non-renewable energy sources.  The third principle of permaculture is: “obtain a yield”.  This concept has some obvious examples in regards to growing food but how does this look like in your community?

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


I. Volunteer Opportunities for the  week o f 11/07//2011:
Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm; Regular Volunteer Hours:  Please join us after working in the gardens for lunch in the soup kitchen on Wednesdays.

Jam making!  Earthworks are in need of volunteers for processing fruit berries into currant, gooseberry, elderberry and raspberry jams.  Dates are:

Tuesdays, November 8th and 15th from 5:30 - 9:30pm.

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 questions, please email us at sbernardo@cskdetroit.org or call (313) 579-2100 x 204.


II. Chef Alison's featured recipe of the week:
Chef Alison from the Capuchin Soup Kitchen highlights quick and easy recipes featuring produce grown in Earthworks gardens.  Recipes can be modified according to taste.

Creamed Spinach and Parsnips

4 Tblsps butter
2 Tblsps oil
2 Lbs parsnips cut into ¾ inch pieces
2 shallots sliced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 tsp thyme
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 ¼ Lbs baby spinach
2 Tblsps flour
2 cups milk or ½  and ½
Freshly grated nutmeg-1-2 pinches

Melt butter, add parsnips , cook till light brown. Add shallots, cook till soft. Add stock, thyme, s&p. Cook till parsnips are tender.

Fill another pot with water, bring to a boil. Add spinach, blanche , drain after 10 seconds. Squeeze dry and coarsely chop. Add to theparsnips.

In pan heat 2 T. butter. Whisk in flour, cook together for 1 minute. Whisk in nutmeg, dairy s&p. Cook until thickened about 2 minutes. Stir sauce into spinach and parsnips.
Place in bowl and serve.


III. Community Announcements:
1. Detroit Food Policy Council Monthly and Work Group Meetings

Please join the Detroit Food Policy Council in creating a healthy, affordable and just food system in Detroit.  

Urban Agriculture Work Group
November 9, 2011 from 6-8 p.m.
The Greening of Detroit, 1418 Michigan Avenue, Detroit

Detroit Food Policy Council Monthly Meeting
November 14, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Eastern Market Corporaton, 2934 Russell St. Detroit

Community Food Justice Work Group
November 15, 2011 from 6-8 p.m.
COLORS-Detroit, 311 E. Grand River in the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Center

Schools and Institutions Work Group
November 22, 2011
COLORS-Detroit, 311 E. Grand River in the Virgil H. Carr Cultural Center

2. 25th Annual University of Michigan and Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum
Cobo Center, Detroit, MI
November 9-10th, 2011

Discover how to thrive, learn best practices, and understand how relevant developments are key to community success. Through a combination of presentations by leading local, regional and national real estate practitioners, workshops and guided bus and walking tours, the Forum provides valuable lessons in real estate development and highlights real estate investment and development opportunities across the greater Detroit area.

For questions, contact Don Taylor at (517) 403-4469 or dftaylor@umich.edu.

3. People and Energy
Sierra Club Offices, 2727 2nd Ave. Detroit, MI
Friday, November 11th, 2011
11am

People and Energy is a coalition of social and environmental justice activists coming together to realize a clean and affordable energy future!

Email: michelle.martinez@sierraclub.org for more information.

4. 2011 - 2012 Humane Partners Program at the Detroit Zoo
2nd Thursday each month, November 2011 to May 2012 ,
4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m.
Workshop cost: $50

The upcoming professional development series is designed for formal and non-formal educators, K – 12 teachers and university professors.

We’ll meet once a month throughout the school year to learn about humane education topics and how to integrate them into your curriculum.  You’ll receive animal welfare and environmental stewardship materials, activities and resources for your classroom.  Topics include learning about the importance of broad-based humane education, animals that share our neighborhoods, Detroit Zoo rescued animals, how to reduce our ecological footprint, schoolyard gardening, alternative dissection and much more!  Everyone will complete one humane education project with their class, assisted by the Zoo’s Humane Education Specialist.

If you’re interested in registering, call (248) 541-5717 ext. 3800.

5. MOSES Equity Summit: Connecting The Dots of Equity
Central United Methodist Church 23 East Adams @ Woodward in Detroit
Thursday, November 10, 2011
6:30pm-8:30pm

MOSES’ Equity Summit is designed to rally people of faith and values to work together on issues of equity that improve the quality of life for our city, county and state. MOSES works toward building healthy communities and a healthy region.  Many Southeast Michigan residents are concerned about jobs, healthcare, education and their overall well being. These concerns connect us all and we aim for solutions that connect us all.

 

RSVP today! Click here!

For more information, contact Ms. Hardaway at (313) 962-5290 ext 15.

6. The "Less Talk...More Action" Economic Security Campaign DETROIT!
Wayne County Community College 1001 West Fort Street, Detroit, MI
Thursday, November 10, 2011
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Sponsored by Open Society Institute through their Center for Black Male Achievement (CBMA) the “Less Talk…More Action” Economic Empowerment Tour, (LTMA) focuses on using financial literacy as a primary tool of empowerment for the Black community. This unique approach expands financial literacy to also include unemployment, incarceration, and education with specific focus on:

• Improving financial literacy rates in African American communities
• Reducing unemployment rates in African American communities
• Reducing mass incarceration rates in African American communities
• Improving educational quality and motivate the use of financial literacy as a part of school curriculum in African American communities

7. International Conference on Sustainability, Transition and Culture Change
Thursday, Nov. 10 - Monday, Nov. 14, 2011
Shanty Creek Resorts, Bellaire, Michigan

A conference bringing together visionaries, activists, and leaders as a gathering of equals to explore together visions for the future in areas of sustainability, peak oil, climate change, economics, politics, renewable energy, food security, transition towns, bioregionalism, permaculture, compassionate living and culture change.

For questions, email: organizer@localfuture.org.

8. What’s for Dinner: The Impact of Global Warming on the World Food Supply
Explorer’s Room, Detroit Public Library, Main Branch 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
2-4pm

The Detroit Public Library presents a series of discussion led by members of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN).  These presentations will explore issues of food security, urban farming and food quality.

Free and open to the public.  Parking is available in the flat surface lot off Putnam.

9. Boggs Educational Center Community Conversations
Victory Outreach 3839 Wabash
Saturday, November 12, 2011
2-4pm

The conversation will explore how too often poor, urban children are robbed of the artistic, cultural, and athletic opportunities that are available to wealthier school districts.  And, how  this is not only a matter of resources, but also due to the attitude many have that school should not be "fun" because "our" kids don't have the time or luxury to do anything but close the education gap.

How do our attitudes towards poor children and school determine the kind of education urban kids receive?  And how can we, as the community, contribute to an effective and positive, urban school environment?

Join us, will you?

Please RSVP to julia.boggsedcenter@gmail.com so that we can plan for a comfortable time for all.  This includes whether or not you need child care.  Thank you!

10. 2011 Native American Festival & Mini Pow Wow
Southfield Pavilion 26000 Evergreen Rd Southfield, Michigan
November 12 & 13, 2011
10am - 6 pm, Saturday
10am - 4 pm, Sunday
Cost: $7.50/person, $6/groups of 10 or more

Returning to the Southfield Pavilion for the 19th year, the Native American Festival and Mini Pow-wow will have something special this year, along with the authentic village, native foods, live performers, storytellers and more.  Native Americans representing the People of the Three Fires will gather and celebrate the customs and traditions of the indigenous Michigan Indians — Ottawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi. This year's main event: the 2011 Hoop Dancing champ Tony Duncan, who will be performing for the crowd. Also new this year is an expanded authentic Native American village.  As in past years, the festival menu includes favorites; fry bread and buffalo burgers.



IV. Jobs in the Community

1. Assistant Farm Manager
Earthworks Urban Farm

2. Education Assistant
Earthworks Urban Farm

3. URDFS Coordinator
Undoing Racism in the Detroit Food System

4. Direct Mail Specialist
Coalition on Temporary Shelter

5. First Responder
First Step (Western Wayne County Project on Domestic and Sexual Violence)

6. Outreach Coordinator
Northeast Guidance Center - Family Resource Center



V. Update from Patrick

Patrick is still on his way back from the Community Food Security Conference in Oakland, California and has many things to share.  Check back in next week for an update!


VI. Outreach Update from Shane

    As I’m writing this, I’m slowly recollecting the numerous events from the last couple weeks and namely the ReImagining Work Gathering and the Race2Equity Conference.  There was a lot going on but I find myself compelled to limit myself to a few topics in effort not to diminish them.  It’s going to be tough to summarize each experience into a few paragraphs but I’ll try.
    At the ReImagining Work Gathering, I had the honor of hearing Mama Sandra Simmons of Hush House open up the morning.  Mama Simmons has a way of putting things that allowed me to see beyond the obvious.  For me, her words connected a personal struggle of mine between the inner work of healing and transformation to the external work of healing and transforming the community.  In so many words, she said, “In order to seek comfort, we have to learn to seek sorrow.” In other words, the key to the process of healing is recognizing that the problem is actually the answer.
    After making that connection, I could’ve left that day feeling great but decided to stick around to see what else I could glean from the next panel of speakers.  The panel consisted of Myrtle and Wayne Curtis of Feedom Freedom, author and activist, Yusef Shakur, Juan Martinez of Detroit Summer, Emmanuel Pratt from Sweetwater Organics and our very own farm manager, Patrick Crouch.  
    On the heels of Mama Simmon’s address, Yusef Shakur’s intimate story of redemption spoke volumes to me.  Yusef highlighted how overcoming his personal struggle was integral to his work of rebuilding his community.  While serving a 9 year sentence for assault with intent to commit robbery, Yusef made amends with his biological father, who he had met while in prison.  Today, Yusef is very active in his community as an author, speaker, activist,  community book store owner and most importantly a father himself.  His story of an inward/out transformation reinforced what
Mama Simmons articulated but possibly what many of us may need to consider in order to heal and reimagine our own communities.
    Speaking of healing, last Saturday was the Race2Equity Conference at Cobo Hall.  Organized by the Michigan Roundtable, it brought folks from all around the world to seat the first Truth and Reconciliation in Detroit.  Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in other parts of the world have been able to bring human rights violations to light through the testimony of both perpetrators and victims. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions have also been able to facilitate the process of reparations and reconciliation.  The first and most notable Commission was formed in Cape Town after the abolition of apartheid in 1995.  It’s not yet clear what the Truth of Reconciliation Commission here in Detroit will accomplish.  Going by the fact that it took a 5-year effort to install the Commission seated over the weekend, I imagine there’s going to be a big shake up in Motown.
    I know I sound like a broken record...I wish I could write more but I need to get some other work done.  See you next week!

Readers' Comments The Week of November 7th, 2011