Join Central Community House for Reflections. Celebrate Black History Month and learn about the Near Eastside from members of your community as they share their TRUTH. MC: Andre Barrett, Jr., Program Associate at Transit Arts, Musician, Vocalist, Poet; Musician: Johnae Spain, Coordinator at Transit Art, Violinist; Fun Family Art Piece: making a neighborhood (using items found at home). Reflection Speakers and Poets: Katerina Fuller, Program Manager at Transit Arts, Poet; Individuals from the Near East community and Greater Columbus area

• When: Saturday, February 26, 2022 from 1pm – 4pm
• Where: From the comfort of your home. Online only via Zoom
• What: Storytelling. Art work. History. Community.

See the attached flyer for details and Register Here!

Healthy eating is important at every age – and can be done on a budget. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips:

• Plan, plan, plan – Plan your meals for the week based on your food budget and make a grocery list that includes staples and perishables. Save money by buying only what you need.
• Compare similar products – Locate the “unit price” on the shelf sticker near the item price. Compare different brands and sizes for the best money-saving option.
• Stretch your food dollars – Add beans and canned or frozen vegetables to bulk up your meals and make your food dollars go further. You will reap the benefits of extra fiber, vitamins, and nutrients while feeling full.
• Grow your own in your home – Grow herbs like basil and oregano inside your home for a fraction of the price. Small gardens can be grown on a windowsill or a kitchen counter.
• Buy in bulk – Save money by buying larger quantities of foods that store well like whole grains, canned or dried beans, and frozen vegetables. Don’t overbuy foods that you will throw out later.
• Look for on-sale produce – Grocery stores rotate their sales and buying what is on sale is a great way to save money and get variety. Do the same with frozen and canned items.

Create a Grocery List! Create a Grocery Game Plan_Grocery List

Plan Meals with the Calendar! Meal Planning Calendar

Smart Shopping Tips for Fruits & Veggies

Smart Shopping for Veggies & Fruits

Shopping for Produce by the Season

Healthy Meal & Snack Ideas!

Frozen Broccoli 5 Ways

Healthy Snack Ideas! Open this PDF to view all 25 snack ideas!

Understanding the New Nutrition Facts Label

ANR Educator Andrew Holden will show you some earth-friendly ways to manage your sidewalks and driveway. Sustainable options for de-icing your sidewalk is part of the SAVE (Sustainable Action through Video Engagement) video series. This video series focuses on helping people live more sustainably within their homes and communities and promote simple everyday actions people can take to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save money. Andrew Holden; Extension Educator Ashtabula County, Agriculture & Natural Resources holden.155@osu.edu

During the Virtual Family Engagement Session on 11/9/2, OSU Extension Franklin County SNAP-Ed Program Coordinator, Danielle Seidita, introduced the SNAP-Ed program, shared great ideas for stretching our food budget at the grocery store, and explored how to create a healthy meal using MyPlate! You’ll pick up a recipe or two from Celebrate Your Plate, as SNAP-Ed offers options to eat well, spend less, and satisfy the ever-changing tastes of children.

Friendship Pocket!

Sustainability and Your Fridge is part of the SAVE (Sustainable Action through Video Engagement) video series. This video series focuses on helping people live more sustainably within their homes and communities and promote simple everyday actions people can take to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save money.

Alisha Barton Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences barton.345@osu.edu

Common Greens Launches Indoor Winter Farmers Market at Ohio History Center

Common Greens Winter Market Location Ohio History Center 800 E 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211

Michelle White Common Greens Executive Director

1-614-537-4120 // hello@commongreensohio.org

October 18, 2021 (Columbus, Ohio) — Starting the first Saturday of December, Common Greens will host a weekly indoor winter farmers’ market on the plaza level of the Ohio History Center. “We are thrilled with this location, as it’s centrally located and offers easy accessibility, abundant parking and natural light, and most importantly, shelter from the elements,” said Michelle White, Common Greens Executive Director. Customers can expect to find a marketplace filled with Ohio-grown produce, meats, dairy, eggs, baked goods and a variety of artisanal food products.

As a bonus, guests to the Ohio History Center will be asked to “pay what you want” for museum admission during market hours, which means everyone will be able to access their educational resources regardless of income. “We’re excited to provide a unique backdrop and experience for this winter market,” said Jen Cassidy, Director of Ohio History Center and Ohio Village. “In addition to locally-grown foods and artisan goods, our team is eager to help guests take home a bit of Ohio’s rich natural and cultural history,” she added.

The farmers’ market is a way for consumers to support local farmers and food producers and in turn, have access to the freshest, most nutritious foods available. The market will continue to provide a $1-for-$1 match up to $25 per market for SNAP and P-EBT shoppers as part of the Produce Perks Midwest network. To date, Common Greens markets have redeemed over $80,000 in fresh food incentives in 2021. While market offerings change with the season, farmers will still have winter squash, potatoes, root vegetables, onions and fresh greens over the winter months. Customers will be able to shop onsite and/or pre order market items through a centralized e-commerce platform. The online market store will be open on Tuesdays 10 am through Thursdays 5 pm.

The market’s farmers and food producers are excited for the extended season. “The availability of winter markets means I can keep areas of the farm fertile and productive, which translates into less loss of biodiversity in the soil systems,” said Dan Woods, owner of 9N Farm in Greenfield. “It also means a steadier income flow throughout the year instead of having to plan for part-time work off the farm over the winter,” he continued.

The winter market opens Saturday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. indoors at Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43211, and will run through April 16th. Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Common Greens is a Columbus-based nonprofit working to amplify the impact of Ohio’s food producers and provide vibrant and inclusive spaces for communities to come together in celebration of local food. In 2021, the organization operated farmers markets in Bexley, Clintonville and Upper Arlington. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.commongreensohio.org/

Being Sustainable During the Holidays is part of the SAVE (Sustainable Action through Video Engagement) video series. This video series focuses on helping people live more sustainably within their homes and communities and promote simple everyday actions people can take to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save money.

Staying active any time is important, but you might need to be more creative in choosing your activities in the fall and winter when the weather outside can be cold and rainy, or snowy. You can use common household items for easy ways to get yourself moving indoors. Think step stools, stairs, light weights, bands, and small sliders….

Visit Extension Today to learn more and to check out the full playlist of Extension Today videos!

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