Active Neighboring News

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Here are events, etc. happening over the next couple of weeks on the Eastside and beyond:
 
1)  Green Infrastructure Meeting for tomorrow (Tuesday) night CANCELED

2)  Report on the Eastside Food Forum/Invitation to Join Advisory Group

3)  Frost Fest on Feb. 13

4)  Center for Financial Health Services

5)  Youth Gardening Conference on Feb. 20

6)  GardenHouse Book Club, Feb. 23

7)  Michigan Good Food Summit on Feb. 25

8)  Gardening Education Collaborative – Check out the calendar/poster of workshops!

9)  Hawk Island Triathlon

10) At Everybody Reads in March

Continue reading “Active Neighboring News”

Active Neighboring News

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
This weekend is jam-packed, as evidenced below:

1)  Food, Inc kicks off GardenHouse Film Series, TONIGHT! (Friday, Feb. 5)

2)  Buying a Home on Lansing’s Eastside, TOMORROW! (Saturday, Feb. 6)

3)  Composting Workshop, Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 6

4)  Friends of Fenner Annual Meeting, Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 6

5)  All You Can Eat Chili at Resurrection, Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 6

6)  See how the Eastside Fares in terms of Physical Activity

7)  GardenHouse Book Club, Feb. 23

8 )  Youth Gardening Conference on Feb. 20

9)  At Everybody Reads in March

Continue reading “Active Neighboring News”

2010 Eastside Food Forum Summary Report

Twenty-seven people were present for the Eastside Food Forum held on January 20, 2010 at the Foster Community Center.

Through a facilitated process, the full group reviewed current food system assets throughout the Eastside.  Five small groups then formed to hold deeper conversations discussing which assets can be enhanced, what is weak or missing, and what can be strengthened.  Finally, each group finished their conversation by considering what kind of future food system we can create.  The full group reconvened to hear all points generated.

The full list of thoughtful comments is included below.  Here is a brief synopsis:

  • Similar themes began to emerge regarding a walk-able community offering equal access to a wide variety of food stuffs with a connection between existing Eastside-based resources as well as a strong connection to regional resources.
  • The importance of increasing diversity of foods to match ethnic diversity and to hear and engage the low income voice was recognized.
  • It was recognized that while the Eastside can’t exclusively feed the Eastside, many existing assets are present (farmers market, community and backyard gardeners, corner stores, up and coming available land, institutional partners such as the Foster Community Center, Lansing Parks and Recreation, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Allen Neighborhood Center, Sparrow Health Systems, schools and churches).
  • A community food space (licensed kitchen and more) was discussed in every group.
  • Similar public conversations will be taking place at the regional and state level this quarter and an Eastside Food Advisory Committee could become an important conduit for greater food security information.

While the Eastside Food Advisory Committee will function as an independent entity, the Allen Neighborhood Center is willing to extend the same support to this group as it does for any neighborhood group (meeting space, administrative support, outreach/public awareness, etc.)  A number of people have already indicated interest in joining this group and there will always be room for more.  If you were not able to attend this Food Forum but would like to become involved, please contact Hollie Hamel (517.999.3911) or Heather Hymes (517.999.3919) to be added to the list.   A poll of convenient meeting times will be taken and the first date will be set in late February.

Buy Local.  Eat Well.

For additional notes please visit the Food and Nutrition Page.

Sign up for the February Urban Gardener Certificate Program TODAY!

Open enrollment has begun for the Spring 2010 Urban Gardener Certificate Program. The class, Wednesdays from 6:30-9, February 24th through March 31st, is a great introduction to basic yard and greenhouse gardening skills appropriate for high density, small lot neighborhoods – conveniently much like those on Lansing’s Eastside. Interested? Email allisonb@allenneighborhoodcenter.org to request an electronic application, or come in to the center for a hard copy.

Here is a sneak peek at the tentative curriculum for the upcoming course:
Feb 24 Introductions& Orientation: What your plants need from you; Urban and Community Gardening
Mar 3 Vegetable Gardening (presented by Gary Heilig, Ingham Co. horticultural educator)
Mar 10 Growing in the GardenHouse (seed starting and other garden labs); Volunteering in the GardenHouse Mar 17 Soil, Compost, and Bed Preparation
Mar 24 “Landscaping the Sustainable Eastside Home: Garden Design for Home Energy Savings, Water Conservation, and Food ProductionClass.” a presentation by Eastside resident and gardener Matt Smar, held at Foster Community Center.
Mar 31 Garden Maintenance: Watering, Weeding, Fertilizing, and Pest and Disease Control.

PLUS…each student will attend a minimum of 3 gardening skills workshops between now and next spring!

Applicants to the Urban Gardening Certification Program agree to:

•Attend at least 5 of the 6 classes AND at least 3 workshops (certification is contingent on attending at least 5 classes and the 3 workshops)
• 40 hours of volunteer staffing at the Hunter Park Community GardenHouse or working with eastside community gardening projects following this course.
• Assist, as time and energy allow, other gardeners on one’s facing block.
• Pay materials costs of $20/30/40*, due no later than at first class meeting.

*Enrollment space is limited with preference given to Eastside residents (48912 zip code residents pay $20/ other Lansing residents pay $30/ outside Lansing$40).

Active Neighboring News

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Included in this bulletin:
 
1)  Planning Your Gardening Year, tonight!
2)  Breakfast with Bauer, this Saturday at Gone Wired
3)  Habitat for Humanity seeks applicants
4)  March Magic Hoop Fest seeks volunteers
5) Coins for Haiti
6)  ANC offers great Volunteer Opportunities
7)  Live at Fenner on Jan. 23

Continue reading “Active Neighboring News”

Back By Popular Demand!

weatherization day flyer

Newsletter Distribution Volunteers Needed!

The Allen Neighborhood Center is in need of Newsletter Volunteers this week to help distribute the Eastside Neighbor. If you are able to volunteer an hour or two of your time, it would be most appreciated. Please contact Heather (heatherh@allenneighborhoodcenter.org) with with date and time (within normal business hours 9-5:30) that you are available to help.

Active Neighboring News

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Included in this bulletin:
 
1)  Eastside Food Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 20
2)  Discover the Walk Score of Your Street
3)  Coins for Haiti
4)  LED Light Exchange (ends soon!)
5)  My Cry in the Dark: Depression in the Black Community, Thursday, Jan. 21

6)  Census Bureau Advises Caution
7)  Joan Bauer’s Town Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 19
8 )  Live at Fenner on Jan. 23
9)  Weatherization Days on Jan. 23
10)  Michigan Ave Thinkers and Doers on Jan. 25
11)  Planning Your Gardening Year, Jan. 26
Continue reading “Active Neighboring News”

Eastside Food Forum on January 20th

Allen Neighborhood Center invites Eastside eaters, gardeners, cooks, grocers, restaurateurs and other interested parties to join us for the Eastside Food Forum, on Wednesday, January 20 at Foster Community Center, Room 213, from 6:30-8:00 pm.  Through a facilitated conversation we’ll look at our food system’s successes and challenges, and figure out where to go from here.
 
Gather with other Eastside stakeholders for a lively discussion of our neighborhood food system (gardens, greenhouse, farmers market, grocery stores, restaurants, pantries, churches, schools, and more). Bring your thoughts, ideas, questions, and suggestions.
 
We’ll look at how these systems interact, how to improve them and how to enhance our local network of food resources. Your input is important, and we look forward to seeing you at the Eastside Food Forum.  If you have any more questions, please contact the Center at 367-2468. 

Also, for a brief history of food related work on the Eastside, please read this PDF document: “Brief History of Food System Work on the Eastside.”

Active Neighboring News

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
 
Included in this bulletin:
 
1)  Planning Your Gardening Year on Jan. 16, repeated on Jan. 26
2)  Eastside Food Forum on Jan. 20
3)  Weatherization Days on Jan. 13, repeated on Jan. 23
4)  Mobile Food Pantry on Jan. 16
5)  Fenner’s Winter 2010 Program Schedule
6)  Lansing Neighborhood Council Volunteer Round Up on Jan. 25
7)  UN Decade on Sustainability Speaker, Jan. 27

Continue reading “Active Neighboring News”

Neighborhood Meetings

ABC: Jan. 4, 6 PM at Pilgrim Church
ENO: Dec. 2, Holiday Party, 6:00 at Foster; Jan. 6. 7:00 at Foster
FAIR: Dec. 3, Jan. 7
Foster Your Neighborhood: Dec. 11, Holiday Party, 6:30 at Gone Wired; Jan. 20, 7:00 at Foster
HERO: Dec. 22, Jan. 26
Holmes School: Dec. 10, Jan. 14
PLACE: Dec. 8, Jan. 12
Prospect Protectors: Call 482.8756
Regent Oaks: Dec. 15, Jan. 19
We Care: Dec. 21, Jan. 18
(all at 6:30 PM at ANC unless noted)

Gallery

Photos from ANC on Flickr

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