With each passing season, Detroitʼs urban agriculture community is growing stronger, with more gardens dotting the landscape, more farmers selling their products locally, more schools providing fresh perspectives of food for their students, and more communities utilizing gardens as a tool for neighborhood change.
In addition to growing in number, the Detroit urban agriculture community is flourishing because of the connections that weave through and strengthen the growing community. On August 7th, Keep Growing Detroit invites you to travel by bus or bike to see a sampling of the over 1,400 gardens in the city and to learn about and celebrate how gardeners, entrepreneurs, and food focused organizations are working together to grow a beautiful and thriving food system.
This yearʼs Annual Tour of Detroit Urban Gardens and Farms will feature themed bus tour routes: “Fresh Perspectives,” featuring youth gardens; “Fertile Ground,” exploring the cooperative efforts of garden communities; “Farm to Fork,” highlighting production focused gardens and the pathways our local food travels; and “Apples Beets Carrots,” a glimpse of how school gardens are re-framing nutrition education. Bike enthusiasts will wind their way through the streets of Detroit on three riding tour routes: “Growing Entrepreneurs,” featuring how businesses are connecting to good food; “Changing Landscapes,” examining Detroitʼs open space and the policies that govern them; and “Hidden City Gems,” displaying diverse gardens spread throughout Detroit neighborhoods.
In addition to visiting a variety of gardens on each tour, guests will also learn about innovative food system partners and initiatives that work in tandem with the efforts of the urban agriculture community. All tours will leave from Eastern Market Shed 3, located east of Russell Street between Adelaide and Division Streets in Detroit. Sign-in begins at 5:00pm and tours will leave at 6:00pm sharp.
After the tour, a reception featuring locally-grown food and refreshments prepared by local chefs will provide you with a taste of Detroitʼs delicious food system. Registration is now open and early registration is strongly recommended.
To register, please visit www.detroitagriculture.net or call 313-757-2635. When registering, be prepared to provide contact information for all attendees and to choose which bike or bus tour you would like to attend. For parties larger than six please call 313-757-2635. The fee for the tour, payable in advance or at the door, is a sliding scale $5-$75 to offset costs and help grow Detroitʼs agriculture movement.
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