The Detroit Farmer Black Land Fund promotes urban farming and Black farmers who are interested in growing food, having land and more equitable opportunities in the regenerative farming community.
Photo provided by Detroit Farmer Black Land Fund
You might have heard the expression, “Take care of Mother Earth and she will take care of you.”
Several metro Detroiters are putting those words into action not only on Earth Day, but every day of the year. From planting gardens to inspiring children to develop a love of nature and participating in projects to help sustain their local world, read on to see what inspires their green works.
“We Were Given Dominion Over Plants and Animals”
Morgan Davis, a member of historic Sacred Heart Church in Detroit, is part of a 1.31-acre parking lot project at the church which changed a parking area into a Green Stormwater Infrastructure which Davis described as “transformational in so many ways.” The project helps remove excess water especially after it rains.
Davis said that faith and nature intersect in so many ways.
“God created the Earth, its plants and animals before He created humans,” Davis said. “When we were made, we were given dominion over plants and animals. By protecting and sustaining Mother Earth, we are performing a critical, needed role.”
Davis added that it all boils down to getting involved if others are interested or curious about developing their nature-loving journey.
“There are so many ways that can be big or small, or everything in between that can connect and strengthen people. We can protect our neighborhoods and communities. You can examine the space around you,” said Davis. “If there’s enough space in your home or yard, plant some plants. If your town has a community garden, volunteer to help keep it up. Be on the lookout for like-minded organizations and opportunities.”
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Erin Preston-Johnson Bevel, sits on the leadership committee of the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund (composed of three local urban farming-based organizations) which was launched last year.
She said that there are a lot of urban farmers in the city and they have faced a lot of red tape issues with trying to secure land, overcome problems with blight, and more.
Preston-Johnson Bevel said that she and others knew last year it was time to join forces and help local Black farmers unify and build up the land.
“Last year with the coronavirus, George Floyd’s murder — it was like now is the time to push this forward,” she said, adding that they started with a small goal to raise $5,000 through GoFundMe to help a couple of farmers which they kicked off on Juneteenth. They wound up raising $60,000 last year, which benefitted 30 Black farmers. “We’re helping them financially to own the land and steward them through … farming, planting, and gardening.”
This year they are hoping to raise money again to bring even more Black farmers online locally. She added that Black farmers make up 1 percent of the farmland in the country and it’s time to “restore Black farmland” in the city of Detroit.
At one point, Preston-Johnson Bevel said that Black farmers migrated from the south and previously made up 25 percent of the farmland at the turn of the century. Due to losing farmland unfairly, being run off by the KKK and other issues, southern Black farmers came up north to find respite.
Preston-Johnson Bevel said that the pandemic taught many people how important it is to start growing one’s food when food resources can at times become scarce.
“So many Black people, too, have recognized how difficult it is to depend on the food system in America,” she said. “To keep our family healthy there has to be another solution and we can make that solution. It is a lot of work but this is how we survive … returning to that legacy; trying to embrace Black land ownership. This is something we want to support in a really definitive way.”
Going ‘Black to the Land’
Tepfirah Rushdan and Djenaba Ali, are members of the Black to the Land Coalition, a Detroit-based coalition of Black people, among other people of color, who lead outdoor initiatives that share resources, increase Detroit’s outdoor activity and teach survival skills.
Rushdan told The Michigan Chronicle that it’s important to ensure that Black and Brown folks are comfortable in those types of spaces, and Black to the Land helps Black people have a seat at the table when it comes to increasing outdoor leadership and advocacy.
“We all have a role in the environment in Detroit and broadly,” she said adding that predominantly white people are heading up these conversations when discussing issues that impact the environments that typically Black people might be living in. “We want to make sure we are at those kind of tables where we are talking about advocating for Black and Brown folks.”
Ali said that she “found her tribe” upon joining the coalition that does everything from fishing and nature walks with children, to camping and more.
“Building that foundational relationship with nature [is] the basis of all of it,” she said, adding that her love of nature started early in life as a kid. “I remember being patient every day waiting in my backyard until a squirrel ate some food in my hand.”
Rushdan, who explored nature a lot growing up, added that it’s important for kids to start experiencing nature at an early age, especially Black children growing up in the concrete jungle.
“It really showed me myself — I was outside. I was not caring about my hair and I got to come back to the city and feel that guard coming back up. …I want people to experience joy and see themselves in that space.”
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