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Food Systems Project
Photo of sunflower in Riddle school garden courtesy of Katie Olender
Without a full-service grocery store, northwest Lansing is considered a "food
desert." Many residents, especially the ¼ living in poverty, find it difficult to
access healthy food. The Food Systems Project works to increase residents'
access to healthy, affordable food while educating residents about the
importance of eating healthy. Click here for our brochure!
desert." Many residents, especially the ¼ living in poverty, find it difficult to
access healthy food. The Food Systems Project works to increase residents'
access to healthy, affordable food while educating residents about the
importance of eating healthy. Click here for our brochure!
Food Systems Project Programs:
CLICK HERE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS PROJECT NEWS AND UPDATES!
Seeking Volunteers
We are always in need of volunteers! Volunteer opportunities range from leading school
garden activities in K-8 classrooms to garden planning, to simply helping water and weed the
gardens.
Volunteers wishing to assist in the classroom will visit the same classroom for one hour every
week or every month (depending on the room) and will lead a garden based nutrition education
activity. Activities include: veggie bingo, harvesting vegetables, cooking in the classroom,
garden art projects, writing about the garden, and much more. Volunteers must be at least 18
years old, reliable, timely, and able to work with diverse student populations.
If you would like more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact Joy at 999-2894;
joy@nwlansing.org.
Get Involved!
The Food Systems Project meets monthly with residents, stakeholders, and partners. The
public is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Joy, the Food
Systems Project Coordinator, or call 517-999-2894. Click here to see when our next meeting is!
Food Systems Project in the News
4/05/2007 Mural depicts students' growing project
4/07/2007 Amazing Artwork Brings a School Garden Indoors
5/13/2007 Local Sorority Digs Deep to Help Garden Project
12/7/2007 Delivering on a quality promise
4/23/2009 Students Celebrate Earth Day
10/17/2009 Bringing The Country Into The City
11/09/2009 Helping Hands
Links:
Food Systems Project Brochure
Green Thumb Gazette - Newsletter sent home quarterly with enrolled students
Food Systems Project grant funders:
Michigan Nutrition Network
Michigan Fitness Foundation
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
Capital Region Community Foundation
- School Garden Based Nutrition Education
The Riddle Elementary School Garden, Cavanaugh
Elementary School Garden, Mid-Michigan Leadership
Academy Garden and Willow Elementary School Gardens
(new in 2010) teach students about healthy eating and how to
grow food for themselves. Students run the gardens,
participating in every step from choosing what to grow and
preparing the soil, to harvesting, cooking, and eating the food.
We currently have 46 classes (1,062 students), grades K-8
enrolled for 1 hour visits each month. Click here to learn more!
Westside Farmers' Market
A new farmers’ market will be coming to Lansing’s Westside
from July 18th—September 19th. The market will be located
in Shanora’s parking lot on the corner of W. Saginaw & Butler
(829 W. Saginaw: just two blocks north from BCFI). The Market
will be open on Mondays from 4-7 pm. We are currently
seeking 6-12 vendors to participate in this market. We are also
open to home and community gardeners interested in selling
overstock produce. If you are interested in becoming a vendor
at this market, please contact Joy at 999-2894.
Nutrition Education & Physical Fitness Program
The NEPF program conducts weekly food samplings,
organizes an exercise group that meet bi-weekly and has
revamped the Celebrate Your Health! Club. NEPF also host
the new Get Fit Lansing website. Contact Stephanie at
stephaniec@nwlansing.org for more info.
- Corner Store Produce Project
The Corner Store Produce Project has allowed us to help our
local convenience store, the Pine/Saginaw Quality Dairy,
provide fresh, organic, local grown fruits and vegetables to our
“food desert” community. Quality Dairy has now expanded the
program to 9 new locations! Click here to learn more!
- Youth and Community Gardens
The Food Systems Project coordinates three community
gardens at the following locations:
• Grace Lutheran Church, 528 N. MLK (MLK/Lapeer)
• Vacant Lot on the corner of Pine/St. Joe/I-496
• 1552 Ballard (between High and Larch St.)
All of the above lots are currently empty and will be
developed in the next few months. We hope to have all
new sites fully established by June. Our goal is to have 20
gardeners at each site. NWI will have some seeds and
transplants to share with participating gardeners.
If you are interested in having a garden plot at any of the above
locations, please contact Joy at 999-2894.
CLICK HERE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS PROJECT NEWS AND UPDATES!
Seeking Volunteers
We are always in need of volunteers! Volunteer opportunities range from leading school
garden activities in K-8 classrooms to garden planning, to simply helping water and weed the
gardens.
Volunteers wishing to assist in the classroom will visit the same classroom for one hour every
week or every month (depending on the room) and will lead a garden based nutrition education
activity. Activities include: veggie bingo, harvesting vegetables, cooking in the classroom,
garden art projects, writing about the garden, and much more. Volunteers must be at least 18
years old, reliable, timely, and able to work with diverse student populations.
If you would like more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact Joy at 999-2894;
joy@nwlansing.org.
Get Involved!
The Food Systems Project meets monthly with residents, stakeholders, and partners. The
public is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Joy, the Food
Systems Project Coordinator, or call 517-999-2894. Click here to see when our next meeting is!
Food Systems Project in the News
4/05/2007 Mural depicts students' growing project
4/07/2007 Amazing Artwork Brings a School Garden Indoors
5/13/2007 Local Sorority Digs Deep to Help Garden Project
12/7/2007 Delivering on a quality promise
4/23/2009 Students Celebrate Earth Day
10/17/2009 Bringing The Country Into The City
11/09/2009 Helping Hands
Links:
Food Systems Project Brochure
Green Thumb Gazette - Newsletter sent home quarterly with enrolled students
Food Systems Project grant funders:
Michigan Nutrition Network
Michigan Fitness Foundation
Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
Capital Region Community Foundation
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| NorthWest Initiative - North Neighborhood Center 530 W. Ionia St., Suite D, Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: 517-999-2894 Fax: 517-999-2897 |
