FFM

Welcome to Fair Food Matters website! Read below for current news and follow the links for more information about our organization and wonderful programs!

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wstar garden

Community Kitchen makes the press!

The word is really spreading now...Lucy was given the opportunity to get the word out about the Community Incubator Kitchen at the July gathering of Green Drinks.

Also if you didn't catch the nice article by Bill Wood in last Monday's Gazette check it out here. For more information, contact Lucy Bland or call 492.7653.

The Garden Buzz

Did you know that now is also a great time for you to become involved with our garden program? There are a number of ways you can do so...

The Growing Matters Garden is hosting a series of community education workshops. These low cost, 1-2 hour workshops are a great way to get your hands dirty while learning about a variety of gardening topics. For more information check out the Growing Matters garden web page.

We are in need of some extra help at our main garden site! Our COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER NIGHTS are EVERY WEDNESDAY evening at 2119 N Westnedge. Come out and meet some great folks, lend a hand with the garden, and learn more about organic gardening and composting. Gardening activities are from 6:30-8:00 pm. Families, friends, neighbors, etc are all welcome to join us!

As the season progresses, we will be in need of ASSISTANCE WITH HARVESTING for farmer's markets. Days and times will vary depending on the scheduled weekly market events.

For more information or for directions, please call the garden line at 269-903-9765 or email Heather Crull.We would love to see you at the garden!

Mark your calanders!

Be sure to check out our events page to discover some of the interesting happenings going on in our community during August and September.

Volunteers Needed

Do you have a talent you would like to share with others? Are you itching to get involved with the local food movement? Check out our volunteer page to find a position that is calling out your name. We are looking forward to your investment of time and energy to support the Kalamazoo area food system!

Eating local: It's about connecting.

Do you want to connect with others who are trying to access and eat locally produced food? With the help of the internet and a lot of passion, residents of SW Michigan and Northern Indiana can easily support each other in the quest to eat more locally grown and produced food. If you are a grower, consumer, restraunteur, retailer or anyone else interested in the local food movement join Eat Local SW Mich today. You will find more information and support than you can imagine.

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About Fair Food Matters
Tax-deductible Donations

ABOUT FAIR FOOD MATTERS

It was with an awareness that the people of our community deserved more information with which to make better choices about how we feed ourselves that Fair Food Matters was founded in 2001.

Download a PDF version of our brochure!

Download a PDF version of our 2006 Annual Report!

OUR MISSION: To build, educate, support and empower our community around local food.

OUR VISION: We envision thriving local communities worldwide growing and distributing safe, nutritious, locally produced foods that foster healthy communities, environments, and economies.

OUR BOARD: If you have any interest in joining a working board, interested in promoting healthful and just eating opportunities in our community, please contact us!

The following people have a blast volunteering to bring Fair Food Matters' programs to the community:

OUR VOLUNTEERS: The following people currently build community around food and food systems by helping out in various ways with Fair Food Matters projects: Donna McClurkan, Arlene Brislen, Rosie Florian, Seema Jolly, Chris Moore, Bradley Post, Kara Purcell, Kylie Schultz, Scott Stevens, and many gardener-helpers. If you'd like to see your name on this list, please contact Scott Weber.

Tax-Deductible Giving to Fair Food Matters

The majority of our funding comes from concerned individuals and institutions who want to see the health and vitality of Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan improve. If you are interested in helping Fair Food Matters, please mail your fully tax-deductible donation to: Fair Food Matters, 323 N. Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007. A receipt will be sent to you. If you have any questions about donating or any other issues related to Fair Food Matters, please contact Scott Weber or call 269.492.1270.

Our Projects and Partnerships

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

Growing Matters Garden--An urban educational youth development gardening project. 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....