Urban Farm Cooperative in Highland Park, Michigan

Website

http://www.distributedpower.us/home/

Overview of Outdoor Idea

Detroit is notorious for its post-industrial abandonment and poverty. Hardest hit has been Highland Park, a 2 square-mile city within Detroit. We are a small start-up food company implementing a growers' cooperative here. We now have 10 vacant lots to cultivate with organic food to sell locally.

The Specifics: What will the $5,000 fund?

We have already developed one lot with a hoop-house and outdoor crops. It is time to expand and start employing people from the neighborhood. This money will help us prepare 6 more previously vacant lots for growing. Currently they are overrun by weeds and garbage. They need to be cleaned up, tilled, and sheet mulched to ensure a successful growing season come next spring. Specifically we need money for labor, as well as compost, mulch, farm equipment, and seed. We have Highland Park and Detroit residents lined up and eager to grow with us. There is an incredible need for healthy food in the area, where a void in public transportation and fresh food leave residents to eat fast-food and grocery shop at gas stations and liquor stores.

Discussion

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