Introducing Purslane Commons
Purslane Commons is a shared community space for mutual learning and connection. We value fostering relationships built on respect and mutuality among farmers, food entrepreneurs, and community members, to strengthen the civic fabric that nurtures our collective well-being.
Purslane Commons designs and coordinates various gatherings and activities, including bulk meal prep co-op, mutual learning sessions, and other gatherings. These events create an opportunity to learn from each other about agroecology and our health.
Located in the Gathering Space at the Washtenaw Food Hub in Ann Arbor, Michigan, our events serve as a nexus for shared learning and collaboration. We invite you to join us in co-creating a vision of shared abundance, where the principles of agroecology and community well-being converge to shape a brighter future.
Meet Kori Kanayama
Kori Kanayama is a renaissance woman striving to strike a harmonious balance in life. A mother to two intense children in pursuit of a meaningful life dedicated to performing music, Kori immersed herself in an enriching career shifting her focus every five to seven years. Through Purslane Commons Kori aims to fulfill her purpose by igniting the humanity in all of us to connect to nature and be a part of something greater than ourselves.
Kori spent her formative years in Japan before immigrating to the US at the age of 19. Only recently, she began to understand how significant growing up in a Westernized Japanese family that normalized high achievement shaped her. She was almost in her 40s when she could finally be comfortable in her skin as an Asian immigrant on this continent. After four decades of living in Southern California, Oaxaca – Mexico, Florida, New Jersey, and Minnesota, she relocated to Ann Arbor in 2021 to reunite with her family.
Kori delights in using what she learned about the systems view, group process design, and changing how we think (our most powerful lever), to develop meaningful connections and greater understanding. A neurodivergent global creative, Kori has re-imagined her self-concept several times, becoming intimately familiar with the challenges and rewards of personal transformation. She believes in the power of reflective listening and leading with vulnerability.
The world of agroecology and local food merges Kori’s professional and personal realms through cooking and foraging. She is committed to expanding her knowledge and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong. Kori enjoys books about neuroscience, agroecology, and the expanding theories of the trajectory of human civilization. In her free time Kori enjoys swimming with local swim teams during the summer months and sweating in the wood-fired sauna at Friends Lake Coop in the cooler months.
Purslane Commons Future Event Offerings
Agroecology Eat and Learn
This is a perfect spot to meet new and old friends and indulge your curiosity about agroecology, which connects food production to our health. Join our interactive “Eat and Learn” sessions at the Washtenaw Food Hub to get immersed in well-being, soil health, and the connection between humans and the environment. Savor delicious food made on the premises while engaging in stimulating conversations with diverse commoners.
Social Cooking
Purslane Commons is the place to come together to learn about cooking catered to your lifestyle! These sessions will occur in a fully stocked commissary kitchen at the Washtenaw Food Hub. Sign up for a Weekend Meal Prep Club to learn to cook dishes in bulk to enjoy throughout the week. Bring your own ingredients to share and get tips or buy our curated box to try new tastes! Cooking Co-ops will be formed by groups of 3-5 people around themes like local/seasonal plant-based eating, cooking using principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and staying away from full-on diabetes.
Community Farmer Meetup
Calling all farmers and aspiring growers in the community! Our Farmer Network events provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support. Enjoy camaraderie with the folks who feed our community and find out how much is already happening here! Together, we can cultivate a thriving local food system that enhances community well-being and mutuality.
Movie Nights
Sit back, relax, and enjoy thought-provoking, educational, and entertaining films related to food, agriculture, and related topics. Movie nights with Purslane Commons offer unique social-educational experiences for the whole family.
Open Dialogues
Engage in open and honest conversations to share your own thoughts and experiences about individual and community well-being. Purslane Commons Open Dialogues at the Washtenaw Food Hub provide an expertly facilitated setting for commoners to listen to each other about topics of shared interest and get comfortable brainstorming an alternative local future.
And more!
There’s always a reason to gather, learn, and grow together. Stay tuned for more information about education and events with Purslane Commons and feel free to pitch us your ideas.