Why shop at a farmers market?

Tomorrow at 3:00 the Farmers Market will be happening in the parking lot of the State Theatre on Michigan Avenue in Wayne.

We previously went to the Farmers Market in Livonia on Saturday mornings at the old barn on West Chicago but the Wayne market is much closer.

Recently I had a co-worker give me a hard time for the price I paid for the strawberries at the market, which gets to the questions of why shop at a Farmers market at all.

For us it is never about the price of the fruits or vegetables! You will probably always find a cheaper price some where else but price is not always everything. Our purchases support a local farm family who are trying to make a living wage in Michigan. The only way to get fresher fruits and produce is to grow it yourself. The produce and fruit is usually picked right before coming to market. There  is also a benefit in carbon emissions because the produce is coming a relatively short distance within Michigan and not being shipped from agri-business places like California, Florida, and Mexico.

In addition to fruits and vegetables the market also sells other items such as fresh artisan bread, honey, vinegar, as well as a host of handmade crafts and jewelry.

If you live in the NW Suburbs of Detroit you should check one of the markets out.

 

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One week from today!

One week from today I will be flying the friendly skies heading West to spend a week in California. I will be staying with my old college roommate, Rob lane, in Sacramento, California. I lived in the Sacramento area when I was in 7th through 12th grade. The weather will be nice and warm, like a 100+, but I will probably get a chance to go to the mountains and ocean to cool off.

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Fathers Day 2009

Had a great Fathers Day with my extended Family in Canada! My mother in law helped my daughters make a custom breakfast after sleeping in. My kids also gave me a giant package of Altoids from Costco which are my favorite mints!

Jim and his case of Altoids

Jim and his case of Altoids

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Kivell Party

This past weekend we had a big party for my in-laws in Canada. We were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, my mother-in-laws 60th birthday, and the fact that my father-in-law is alive!

Gary and Sherrill Kivell

Gary and Sherrill Kivell

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Plant With A Purpose

Floresta has recently launched a new initiative called, Plant With A Purpose.

By reversing deforestation, Plant With Purpose helps the poor restore productivity to their land to create economic opportunity out of environmental restoration. Since 1984 we have helped more than 100,000 people in some 230 villages lift themselves out of poverty through our holistic approach to sustainable development.

We invite you to join us, and Plant With Purpose.

Why not give your Dad a gift that will have a big impact!

For more information about Fathers Day check out their blog

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The Best Men

Nate John and Jim Best

oldest son has biggest bald spot!

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Best Family Celebration

This past week my whole family got together at Mill Creek Lake in Illinois to celebrate my Mom and Dad’s 40th wedding anniversary. We had a great time! Below is a photo album of out time away.

Best Family 40th Anniversary Celebration

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Floresta partnership

This past year our family has had the privilege of sponsoring a village in Haiti named Pilar through an organization called Floresta. Floresta is a Christian not-for-profit that seeks to make the Kingdom of God a present reality by helping developing countries like Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. The three area of focus of Floresta are environmental restoration, spiritual inspiration, and economic empowerment. Their goal is to bring healing to the land and its people.

Floresta plants hope. For more than 20 years they have been providing intentionally holistic solutions to meet complex economic, environmental and spiritual needs of poor farmers in developing countries.  Floresta replaces a vicious cycle of poverty and deforestation with a virtuous cycle of opportunity and environmental restoration. Led by a global community of Christ-followers dedicated to helping the poor and healing our planet, they provide long-term solutions rather than short-lived handouts. They treat root causes, transform lives and restore the land.

Floresta has many creative and exciting ways that individuals and groups can support the important work they do.  People can donate to fund a specific project or make a general donation, plant 10 trees (in your name or in honor of someone else) for only $20.00. For as little $30 a month you can help transform an village. They also offer an Alternative Christmas Tree program at Christmas time… plant 30 trees for the price of cutting down a real one! Floresta also offers “Vision Trips” to several of the countries where they work. On these trips you can experience what it is like to walk among those who live on a dollar a day. You can explore the causes and effects of poverty and see Floresta’s lasting solutions in action. You can equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to create positive change that won’t end when you return home. We are currently raising funds for our family to take a Vision Trip to Haiti next year.

Our family has also decided to take our support one step further and become regional representatives for Floresta in South east Michigan.  It is our joy to advocate for those who so desperately need help and we have found Floresta to be an incredible organization that is tackling the root causes rather than just seeking a “band aid” type of quick fix. One of the best ways to get this message out is to have a “coffee talk” which is where a person would open their home and invite friends and neighbors who may be interested in learning more about Floresta and the work they do. A Regional Rep (in this case… us!) would come and share information through a short DVD presentation and printed material and answer any questions that people may have. We would be happy to talk to you about scheduling a coffee talk at your home or church, or answering any other questions you may have.

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notes on one of my favorite books

Recently a friend ask me to share some ideas for a book discussion that he will be leading this summer on the book by Mark Scandrette called, Soul Graffiti. Below is a part of the email I sent to him.

I was thinking about the book and why I have chosen to read it four times already, and I think for me the important thing about this book is that it is one of the only books I know about that really tries to tackle what it would look like today to follow Jesus as a way of life. I personally have been captivated perplexed by verses such as
John 10:10
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

and Matthew 7:26- “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Scandrette throws down the gauntlet and things have not changes since Gandhi’s time. :(
Gandhi’s quote- “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” sic

On page 8 of book the blurb below makes a good point on “way of life”

You begin to make life in the way of Jesus by investigating the essence of his message and the example of his life–and experimenting with following his path a companion, artist, healer, and mystic.

In discovering the essence and example it must be lived out.

p.10
In a world overwhelmed words, sometimes the most powerful communication is action that is fueled and inspired by love. We are more likely to trust messages that are inhabited, like living, breathing, three-dimensional graffiti.

The problem of following Jesus is our notions of what we think we are supposed to do and if that is really what he wants. We need to very critically asses who we are in light of Jesus.

p.34
His (Jesus) words were intended to provoke us to think and act in new ways to dismantle and sabotage our long-held assumptions and habits so that we might be released into a better way of life. (NB)

To often we think everything is ok with our Christian life because we say it is ok. This next quote is one of the most disturbing for me from the book.

p.37
Are we apprentices of Jesus when we say we are, or because we do the things He taught. (!)

Our life as a Christ-follower needs to seep into and effect everything we do! We often see Jesus as a teacher but we do not see the small daily building blocks necessary for a fruitful life of followership.

p.41
Jesus, as a teacher, embodied a total pattern of behavior including habits, disciplines, and learned responses to circumstances. The early followers of Jesus understood that Jesus was significant as a savior but also as a teacher who demonstrated a new way of life.

Or I guess to put into simplest terms for a discussion with others. If a person is going to be a fruitful follower of Jesus they need to put intentional effort into the life spheres of community, creativity, compassion, and contemplation. No right or wrong way to look at these but these four area make a broad framework for the life and example of Jesus.

ISBN: 0470276622

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Fathers Day Gift Idea

I just purchased a hillside of trees in a developing country for my Dad from the excellent organization called Floresta. I just called them up and a card is on the way! A hillside of trees is only $25!

Floresta Contact Info:

Floresta USA
4903 Morena Blvd, Suite 1215
San Diego, California 92117

toll-free: 800-633-5319

fax: 858-274-3728

email: info@floresta.org

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