In a Yes Magazine article titled “Detroit’s Good Food Cure,” writer Larry Gabriel explores the community garden renaissance that is taking the city of Detroit by storm.

In a Yes Magazine article titled “Detroit’s Good Food Cure,” writer Larry Gabriel explores the community garden renaissance that is taking the city of Detroit by storm. 

According to the article, “There are more than 1,200 community gardens in Detroit — more per square mile and more per capita than in any other American city.” This little known fact about Motor City might take some by surprise, but it’s proving to be a model in giving access to fresh, local vegetables to urban cities and communities.
One of the groups championing the growth of community gardens is the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). The coalition is working to build food security by promoting urban agriculture, healthy eating habits, and encouraging young people to get interested in agriculture and other food-related fields.
DBCFSN also runs D-Town Farm, a 7 acre site that has become a gardening haven in the city. D-Town sits on a former nursery tree lot in River Rouge Park and is one of the greenest areas in the city. In addition to the 1.5-acre vegetable garden, there’s also a small apple orchard, garlic plot, beds of salad greens and a plot of medicinal herbs.
Up to 30 volunteers come out to D-Town Farm each weekend to tackle various gardening chores like sowing, pruning, composting, harvesting and general property maintanence.
Volunteers say that the gardening experience has helped them to eat better and has had a positive impact on their overall health.
To learn more about D-Town Farm, visit http://dtownfarm.blogspot.com.