The Week of October 31st, 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 second principle of permaculture is: catch and store energy. What 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 10/31/2011:
Wednesdays thru Saturdays, 9am-12:30pm; Regular Volunteer Hours:  Please join us after working in the gardens for lunch in the soup kitchen Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

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

November 1st, 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.  During summer months, water bottles, hats with brims, sunscreen and work gloves are highly encouraged.  Long pants and closed toe shoes are required.  For questions, please email Shane at sbernardo@cskdetroit.org or call (313) 579-2100 x 204.


II. Chef Alison’s Weekly Recipe

Roasted Beets, Apples, and Fennel
5 med. beets, peeled and quartered
5 apples, cored and chopped
2 heads fennel, trimmed and sliced
½ cup honey Dijon dressing or just sweet Dijon
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tblsp olive oil
1 tsp. sea salt
Black Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F.
Place beets, apples and fennel in pan. In small bowl, mix the honey Dijon, vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper. Pour over the mixture and mix well.  Roast in oven for 1 hour or until beets are tender.

III. Community Announcements:
1. Detroit Complete Streets Coalition presents: Complete Streets Symposium

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Building A, Northeast Guidance Center 2900 Conner, Detroit, MI 48215
10am – 12noon

Wednesday • November 2, 2011
Focus: HOPE Family Learning Center 1400 Oakman Blvd. Detroit, MI 48238
5pm – 7pm

Participants will learn about complete streets, discover some local examples of complete streets and understand what Detroit is doing to implement this kind of infrastructure. They will also learn how they can become more active in the process. Detroit area organizations doing work related to complete streets will have tables at both events with information for the public.

RSVP – Call 1-877-926-8300.  Questions – Email Myra at mmtetteh@gmail.com.

2. FREE Wellness Fair

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011, 3 – 6pm
Cass Tech High School 2501 Cass Ave., Detroit, MI

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 from 3 – 6pm
Renaissance High School 6565 W. Outer Dr., Detroit, MI

Hustle for Health Hour
Blood Pressure Screening
Cholesterol Screening
Free Massages
Exercise Tips
Flu Shots
Eye Screening

3. Men’s Circles
American Indian Health & Family Services 4880 Lawndale, Detroit, MI 48210
Thursdays starting November 3rd, 2011
Noon-2pm

The community is invited to support the men in beginning their new life.  Men’s Circle will address issues regarding life’s changes.  These weekly circles will offer cultural based solutions.  Limited transportation available, must arrange a week in advance.

Please call (313) 846-3718 or email adavis@aihfs.org for more info.

4. Federal Transit Administration Information Session
Considine Center, 8904 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
6pm – 9pm

The Civil Rights Office of the Federal Transit Administration invites you to attend an information session regarding Proposed Title VI and Environmental Justice Circulars with Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan.  Read the circulars ahead of time, and submit your official comments to the docket!
 
Please RSVP.  Registration is free.  Light refreshments will be served.  

5. Sierra Club Free Monthly Speaker Series:
The Living Nightmare of Animal Factories in Michigan
Kelly Services Building 999 W. Big Beaver, Troy, MI
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
7pm - 8:30pm

Learn what you can do to help keep our air, streams & lakes clean.  Lynn Henning will present on CAFO's - Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations - an unregulated nightmare of air and water pollution in Michigan.

6. Race2Equity Conference: Examining Race, Place & Opportunity in Metro Detroit
Cobo Hall Convention Center 1 Washington Blvd # 401, Detroit, MI
November 4th & 5th, 2011
Friday, 1pm - 4:30pm
Saturday, 8am - 4:30pm
Cost: $50 General, Students $30. Limited scholarships are available

Seating the Metro Detroit Truth & Reconciliation Commission On Racial Inequality.  Our Mission is to help build sustainable inclusive communities.

Keynoter Speaker:
Nontombi Naomi Tutu
South Africa

Continental Breakfast lunch & conference materials included in the registration cost

For more information or to register:
Please visit http://www.miroundtable.org or call 313-870-1500  x104.

7. My Voice. Your Entertainment.
UAW/Ford National Program Center 151 West Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI
Friday, November 4th, 2011
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Hosted by the Michigan Roundtable Regional Youth Interns.  Come join us for an Open Mic night showcasing the talent of youth across Metro Detroit. We welcome performers of all kinds to sign up the day of. Share your music, poetry and art that promotes POSITIVE messages of justice in our region. ALL ARE WELCOME!

8. Michigan Community School Gardener Meeting
Wayne Co. Community College Eastern Campus Detroit, MI
November 5th, 2011
9AM - 4:30PM
FREE

Build our capacity. Share our strength.

The Michigan Community School Gardener Meeting is a summit of school and community gardeners from across Michigan that seeks to build local capacity and strength by encouraging peer to peer learning and teaching of knowledge and expertise.

Registration is FREE, but a suggested donation of $5 at the door is appreciated!   A vegetarian/vegan friendly lunch will be provided for all.

For more info or to register, please click HERE or visit http://www.miyouthandfood.msu.edu and/or call Anne Scott at (517) 353-0751 or scottann@msu.edu or Michelle Jackson at (313) 721-8220.

9. Undoing Racism in the Detroit Food System Monthly Gathering
Room 106, Wayne County Community College 5901 Conner St., Detroit, MI
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
1-3pm

This month we are meeting concurrently with the Community School Gardener Networking Meeting.  Please join us for a free screening of the film, The Economics of Happiness.  Please also join us for our next monthly gathering on December 3rd, 2011 from 1-3pm at the MSU Detroit Center for a discussion on: The History of Food in Detroit.

10. Timebanks Learning Community
Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Rd., in Southfield, MI
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
11am - 1pm

Those interested in starting a TimeBank and connecting to the community of TimeBank coordinators are welcome to attend our meetings. They are usually held on the 1st Saturday of each month, 11 am - 1 pm.  A potluck is included during the meeting, so please bring a dish to share!

11. Youth Food Justice Task Force Garden Work Day
More Food Community Garden 306 King St., Detroit, MI 48202
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
2-6pm

The Youth Food Justice Task Force along with the Holbrook King Block Club will gather for a fall work day: hoop house build, fortify the compost system and putting the garden “to bed”.  Please bring your fruit and vegetable scraps for the compost. All youth that want to be part of the Task Force should attend.  The Youth Food Justice Task Force is an offshoot of the Detroit Food Justice Task Force.

Ongoing Programming begins on Friday, November 11 at the EMEAC offices in the Cass Corridor Commons, 4605 Cass, Detroit, 48202.  Food Justice Fridays will feature programming with Lottie Spady, Linda Campbell and other Food Justice Task Force members.

For more info, please contact Sanaa at (313) 478-3920 or email sanaa@emeac.org.

12. Equity Summit 2011
Detroit Marriott 400 Renaissance Dr., Detroit, Michigan 48243
November 8-11, 2011

Equity Summit 2011 is the fourth national PolicyLink Summit, bringing together the nation’s equity movement—your fellow advocates, activists, policymakers, foundation officials, and equity leaders—to advance a truly inclusive policy agenda.  Join us in Detroit to share in a vision for more sustainable and equitable development with access to jobs, transportation, education, health, and housing for all.

Click HERE for a full schedule.


IV. Jobs in the Community

1. Program Assistant
Center for Progressive Leadership

2. Community Organizer
CARE of Southeastern Michigan

3. Director of Health Innovation
Great Start for Kids


V. Update from Patrick

I already wrote this once and lost the whole thing.  So you don't get the deluxe edition but more of the cliff notes update, as I can't justify writing the whole thing over.

Gleaners we keep on harvesting, spinach, beets, carrots, cabbage, kale, collards, and peas.  Most of this stuff is just about done out in the field, but more crops are coming on soon in the hoop house - so the harvest goes on.  Compost piles have been for the most part too wet to sift, but we did start sifting on one of the piles built on a pallets, light and fluffy and easy to sift plus it looks great.  Nice work Rachel and Robbie.  We have been putting leaves down on beds for the winter, we could us more leaves if you have them.  The bobcat comes back for a visit this week, so we will be busy using that as quick as possible, so we can return it.  I'm looking forward to some more bobcating.  Also need to get hoops over onions, leeks and spinach, and row cover.  Still feels a little early for plastic to me.  I've been putting plastic off as long as I can so I don't have to worry about overheating.

In the hoop house we have been putting some weed fabric on the sides, trying to seal it a little better, as well as keep weeds down on the edges.  We have a nice crop of greens growing, lettuce, spicy greens mix and arugula can be harvested this week and collards in another.  I would guess radishes should be ready in another week or so.

In the greenhouse we are almost finished with the floor, and it's looking really good.  I'm sure we will finish that this week and then we can move everything in and set it up.

I think that's gonna cover it for this week,

until next week,
onward.  


VI. Outreach Update from Shane

    So much has happened last week. It’s going to be tough to pack it all into one update.  Here goes nothing...!
    Last Monday, COLORS - Detroit and the D4 Food Policy Task Force hosted Food Day 2011: $5 Dollar Food Challenge.  In food terminology, it was a “combo meal” of sorts except without the cheap, plastic, action figure.  There, a fairly wide panel of folks representing advocacy and policy groups to businesses and academia spoke on how their work reflected the theme of “Good Food/Good Jobs”.  
    There was a lot shared but what stuck out most was what WSU Associate Professor, Kami Pothukuchi stated regarding food stamp benefits. “Only 80% of people that qualify for food stamp benefits are actually receiving them.  Additionally, food stamp benefits are based on only $1.15 per person per meal.”  The bounty of food that followed the panel was great but even at a bargain of $5, the dinner ironically was out of still out of reach for many food stamp recipients.
    Afterward, facilitated breakout sessions engaged dinner guests on a range of topics from worker rights to business development and environmental and food justice issues.  
The suggestions that seem to touch on more than one area were then prioritized into possible policy measures.  By then, the food coma induced by an earlier helping of sweet potato wontons began to wear off on me.  Hopefully, COLORS - Detroit will have them on the menu when they open its worker-owned restaurant co-op.  
    Last Tuesday, I went to see Mistinguette Smith's lecture: How Do Black Women Relate to the Land at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.   She spoke about Black land loss, shrinking cities, economic potential of black land, healing historical trauma and how narrowly Black connections to land are framed. I'm still processing it all but it was incredible...!  I'll post a video as soon as it's released.  In the meantime, you can check out:http://www.blacklandproject.org and see for yourself!
    Last Friday, I attended the Better Living Through Timebanking event hosted by the MI Alliance of Timebanks at Lighthouse Community Church here in Detroit.  Stephanie Rearick from the Dane County Timebank in Madison, Wisconsin was the featured speaker. She talked about how folks could use timebanking in Detroit to connect untapped resources with unmet needs and build a community of folks that feel like valued members of society.  With so many people underemployed, in foreclosure and on emergency food assistance, timebanking may be a way to subsidize the aid or income people have or don’t have.
    I apologize if your head is spinning right now.  There’s so much more I want to share with you but it’ll just have to wait.  Come back next week for a report on how I spent my weekend (at the ReImagining Work gathering)!  

Readers' Comments The Week of October 31st, 2011