"In Detroit, where locals refer to stretches of the city as urban prairie, food gardens are scattered through backyards, schoolyards and even more unlikely spots, including the floor of an abandoned roofless furniture factory and a vacant lot owned by a local order of Catholic friars. The number of gardens has grown to nearly 450 since the Garden Resource Program Collaborative began coordinating them in 2003.
The gardeners grow much of the food for themselves, but they have also organized a co-op, Grown in Detroit, to sell their surplus peas, onions, yams and greens. From farm stands in health center parking lots and at a prime booth in Eastern Market, the city’s chaotic maze of wholesalers and local farmers, gardeners lure customers to take their first bite of a garlic scape, or compare their young spinach with that in a Del Monte box down the aisle. Next year two and a half acres that were waist high with weeds last summer will be set aside for market-bound produce."
1 comment:
Jodi - This is such wonderful news. With the rising costs here in Detroit - good local produce is going to be imperative to making sure people are eating healthy! I love going down to the Eastern Market to get my veggies and fruit. The 18th is flower day and I will be heading down to pick up my flowers and vegetable plants. I will make sure to take a few pictures for you.
Tracy
Post a Comment