Do you want to grow your own food?

Do you want to grow your own food? Our Kitchen Table (OKT) is currently recruiting residents of in the Baxter, SECA/Southtown, Eastown and Garfield Park neighborhoods who would like to grow their own healthy food at their residences, whether they own or rent their homes. Qualifying gardeners will have access to free gardening resources including gardening containers, heirloom food plants and seeds and composted soil as well as a garden coach, soil testing and food garden education. OKT has resources for up to 40 food gardeners.

OKT’s urban grower, Michael VanderBrug, is currently growing food plants at the Blandford Farm greenhouse. He and the OKT garden coaches will distribute these plants to the families and individuals enrolled in OKT residential food gardening program as well as to select local schools, agencies and designated community gardens—at no charge. For information, visit www.OKTjustice.org, email OKTable1@gmail.com or text/call 616-206-3641. 

This is the sixth year OKT has offered the yard food gardening program as part of its Food Diversity Project, which is funded by a grant from the w K Kellogg Foundation. OKT also manages the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market at Grand Rapids’ MLK Park from June 17 through November 12; offers free food gardening and food justice education classes to all; and hosts free cooking, gardening, foraging, bike and walking tours and food justice events throughout the year.