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Living Zen Organics
In 2008, we launched an organic, vegan & community based cafe, store & food distribution business. It was a way to support our Zen Center, offer students and some neighbors jobs & a means of supporting themselves, and a chance to promote health in our neighborhood -- Hamtramck -- the most diverse yet economically poor community in Michigan.
It was also a small yet sincere response to the deep, interwoven local & global issues around healthy food access, education, the wealth gap, Detroit's food deserts, animal farming & its direct relationship to environmental destruction, pesticide/antibiotic use in food, etc. In our neighborhood, the relationship between eating a diet of highly processed food and the epidemics of diabetes, obesity, depression & a host of other illnesses is on full display.
We closed our cafe & food distribution business on March 19, 2020, with Covid and its effects as the catalyst. We welcomed this as an invitation to move into a more sustainable & holistic model for a future community business, integrated with our mission and view. In taking our time, the next incarnation will be an evolution forward. In the gap between the past & future of Living Zen, we've offered pop up meals & events from time to time, with announcements via facebook, instagram & our email list.
Closing Thoughts...
The depth of our crisis as a species was hinted at by Covid. Food issues reflect only a corner of this crisis. We are working now toward a clearer view of how best to serve in these times.
We appreciate the support, and may we join together in the work!
30,000 lbs of kale served (so far)!
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