Arbor Update

Food

People's Food CoOp Elections

Posted by Patti Smith on 13. May 2009

I grew up in a suburb north of Detroit in the 70s/80s. If you know the area, it perhaps goes without saying that I never heard of things called “quinoa” or “kale” or “stinging nettle”. It was all about Shake’n‘Bake, Hamburger Helper and iceberg lettuce with Garden Goddess dressing in the Smith household.

When I moved to Ann Arbor (a lifelong goal…at least since the age of 9, when I first visited the UM Hospital and saw someone with blue hair and knew I had to live here), one of the first things that I did was join the People’s Food Co-Op. Thanks to the friendly folks there, I have tried quinoa and kale and stinging nettle (and a host of other things, some that I loved and some not). For these and many other reasons, I take the co-op elections really seriously. The Board of Directors election is coming up soon. Ballots are due by 4pm on Saturday, May 30 or you can bring them with you to the annual meeting on May 31 from 3:00-5:00 at the Leslie Science Center.

Four candidates are seeking to join the other cool folks on the Board. Please find their candidate statements in the newsletter

If you are a member, please remember to vote!! Thanks to the candidates for running—and good luck!!

Comment [214]

Food

Yes We Can: Preserving Traditions Fills The Void with Local Goodness

Posted by Nancy Shore on 3. February 2009

In response to a post on Canning, Freezing and Drying in Ann Arbor, a commenter made the following remark:

As an increasingly committed ‘locavore’, I’d like to see some sort of group effort (formal or not) in canning, preserving, etc. to capture the local harvest (not just our own individual efforts). Seems like it will be more important in tough economic times and high fuel prices.

Well although gas prices have gone down, interest in local foods is still on the rise.
So I was excited to hear about a new group for all of us home preservers.

It’s called Preserving Traditions, and according to their blog, the group is

a non-profit club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan for people who like to cook from scratch, especially local foods, plant, harvest, and U-Pick, can, pickle, and dry food, share skills, equipment, and knowledge to make all these things easier and more fun!

The group will be holding events at the Pittsfield Grange

The first event is on February 8th from 2-5pm and will be all about pasta making.

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Business

Dominick's Proposes PUD

Posted by Nancy Shore on 8. January 2009

• a bed and breakfast?
• residential apartments?
• small grocery store/gift store with a coffee shop?

All of these ideas and more are on the table as local institution Casa Dominick’s (812 Monroe) is looking to rezone its restaurant and some surrounding parcels as a Planned Unit Development.

There is a public meeting planned at Dominick’s to talk about this proposal on January 12, 2009 at 6pm.

All of the info including a map of the areas impacted can be found here.

Comment [5]

Local

Food Gatherers sees staggering demand for services

Posted by Juliew on 9. October 2008

AU Reader Clarence William Cromwell submitted the following:

Food Gatherers marked its 20th anniversary last weekend with little fanfare, as its staff and thousands of volunteers strain to keep up with requests for help from Washtenaw County residents.

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Food

Can, Freeze, Dry: Home Preserving in A2

Posted by Nancy Shore on 4. October 2008

I was at the Farmer’s Market this morning just blown away by all the fresh produce and I thought this would be a great time for a post on home preserving.

As the colder weather starts to move in, home preserving is a great way for us in the Ann Arbor area to store something tasty for a snowy winter’s day.

And apparently, there are lots of folks taking up home preserving out there. I recently heard that canning supply sales are up 40% at the Ace Hardware store on Stadium.

So here’s a rundown of where to go and what to do related to home preserving in Ann Arbor. I hope this post becomes a place for others to share what they know as well.

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Food

Local Food Saturday

Posted by Juliew on 13. September 2008

Hungry for good food? Need to learn how to buy local food? Want to be able to talk heirloom tomatoes with the best of them? Don’t miss this Saturday’s (September 13) local food extravaganza!

Starting off the day, stop by the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market and see, smell, taste, and purchase the amazing array of produce available in Michigan in September. Michigan is one of the largest food producing states and one of the states with the most variety of produce. You will see that in evidence on Saturday. The market opens at 7:00am and goes until 3:00pm.

Once you have had your fill of the market, head over to the Home Grown Festival in the Community High field from 11:00am to 4:00pm. There will be a silent auction, a tomato taste-off, yummy local food, bands, and kid’s events.

Still haven’t had enough? Continue the fun with the Harvest Hootenany to support Project Grow at Zingerman’s Roadhouse from 4:00-9:00pm.

We are lucky to live in a state with access to so many local foods. Enjoy the bounty!

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