Eat Local, Kalamazoo! Schedule of Events

Participate in the Eat Local Challenge throughout the month of September!

Thursday, September 4, 6:30 to 8:30 pm
The Eat Local Experience
Kalamazoo Public Library (Central), 315 S. Rose Street
Kick off Eat Local, Kalamazoo! taste testing some great local food prepared by area chefs. Following the tasting event, take part in a casual give and take conversation about the challenges, solutions and amazing experiences of eating locally. This session will feature Kalamazoo's very own Donna McClurkan, who has been one of fifteen people around the nation taking part in Splendid Table's Locovore Nation challenge.

Monday, September 8, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Eating Local: The Health Connection
Bronson Gilmore Center, 7 Healthcare Plaza
Come to the Gilmore Center at Bronson Hospital to learn how choosing to eat locally grown and produced foods can affect your health. Together we will explore how nutrition, connectivity and soil health impact our over all well being.

Thursday, September 11, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Edible Forest Gardens, Meet Dave Jacke
Kalamazoo Public Library (Central), 315 S. Rose Street
Dave Jacke explores the ecology and design of home-scale food forests in Edible Forest Gardens. Jacke designs diverse, high-yield gardens featuring fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, other useful plants, and animals, in a way that mimics natural ecosystems and forges mutually beneficial relationships. WOn September 13 and 14 Dave Jacke will be conducting two, full day workshops at Oikos Tree Crops.

Saturday, September 13, 10:30 to 2:30 PM
Community and Urban Garden Tour
Discover the variety of community and urban gardens scattered throughout Kalamazoo. Join the crowd that will be traveling to the different sites via bike or visit the garden of your choosing by car.

Wednesday, September 17, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Your Granny's Goats: Heritage Livestock Breeds and Why they Matter
Food Dance, 401 East Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo
Traditionally, farmers throughout the world have raised hundreds of different animal breeds. However, since today's industrial farms rely upon only a few specialized types of livestock, many non-commercial animal breeds are disappearing. Join us as we explore why we should care, what is being done and what we can do to stop this sensless loss.

Sunday, September 21, 11:30 AM -6:30 PM
6th Annual SW Michigan Harvest Fest
Tillers International, 10515 East OP Avenue, Scotts
Tillers International will be the host of great presenters, music and dance, and fun activities for the whole family. Join us to hear Will Allen of Growing Power present about the role of urban agriculture in sustainable living. You will also be able to visit with an exciting list of vendors including farmers, artisans, sustainability experts and more! Admission is only $10 per car (or $1 per person for busloads of ten or more) and admission for bicyclists is free.

Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 to 8:00 pm
The Burgeoning Green Economy
Kalamazoo Public Library (Central), 315 S. Rose Street
Tim Young, entrepreneur and founder of Food for Thought, will talk about the economic benefits of developing a business that helps sustain and preserve our natural world. Food for Thought's organic jams, juices, preserves, and condiments are sold throughout the Midwest and beyond.

Friday, September 26, 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Sleep Tight, Sweet Garden
Kalamazoo Public Library (Oshtemo), 7265 W Main St, Kalamazoo
The growing season may be winding down, but there are some things we can do to give our garden a nice winter rest. Experts from Fair Food Matters will offer suggestions for preparing the garden for springtime success.

Tuesday, September 30, 7 to 8:30 PM
Community Dessert Potluck
Location to be determined
Celebrate the beautiful bounty of the local harvest with a community potluck. The participants of the Eat Local Challenge will be entered into drawings for prizes and Eat Local, Kalamazoo! stories and poems will be shared.

Our Projects and Partnerships

Eat Local, Kalamazoo!--September events celebrating and exploring local foods.Learn more....

Future Chefs--A summer program for teens to learn to cook from scratch. Learn more....

Community Kitchen--Soon to be a place for individuals and organizations to process food for resale or public consumption. Learn more....

Farms-to-K College--A student group at Kalamazoo College interested in helping to bring more local food into their cafeteria. Learn more....

Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Fest--A celebration of local food, local farming, and sustainable living. Learn more....

Kalamazoo Area Food Systems Inventory--An assessment of the food system. Learn more....