Story and Photos
by Christopher Thompson

How often do we stop to think about how much time and work went in to getting the fresh produce on grocery store shelves? To most of us it’s as if it appears by magic, but those who grow produce know how just much work goes into farming. An understanding of all that goes into it helps us all appreciate our food that much more. The volunteers and staff of Earth Works Garden, an urban farm in Detroit, enjoy working intimately with the Earth to produce healthy, fresh foods.

In 1998, a Capuchin friar by the name of Brother Rick Samyn started Earth Works in order to help give the community a better understanding of food. He was concerned that people were wasteful because they were unaware of the time and labor put into growing food. Brother Rick shared the food with a local soup kitchen to help reconnect the people with the food. And that’s why the Capuchin soup kitchen is a part of the Earth Works organization and sits across the street from the garden. Program Manager Rod Toneye says that the Capuchin soup kitchen provides about 2200 meals a day, and some of that food comes from the Earth Works gardens.

Because of a lack of supermarkets in Detroit, Toney believes that these urban gardens are essential for Detroit. Hedescribes Detroit as a “food desert” (see website below), that is a place devoid of healthy foods and outlets to procure them. Negative perceptions about Detroit contribute to a lack of supermarkets and other grocers, which hurts Detroit not just financially, but nutritionally. Despite a great deal of poverty in Detroit, Toneye notes, there is paradoxically high amount of obesity. This is because Detroiters have limited choices and access to healthy foods. What they do have are inexpensive fast food joints or corner stores with junk food and what little produce they might have, having sat on the shelves for weeks. What choices do impoverished Detroiters have? Toneye says that there is a market nearby with good fresh produce, but even he can’t buy any of it – it’s too upscale. Why should healthy food only be for the wealthy?

Toneye takes the issue of health and community to heart because of his involvement with the community. He says, “If people are involved in the community, they have more pride in it. They don’t like the crack houses.”

Earth Works is doing a lot to help the community as Patrick Crouch, Greenhouse and Field Production Coordinator explains. It provides gardeners with over 40,000 transplants, which fills about 600 flats. These flats contain partially grown plants that farmers can purchase for a very low price. All in all, the amount Earth Works provides is enough to serve about 150 community gardens plus 120 home gardens. Some of their produce goes to local markets, where vouchers are given away for free through a program called Project Fresh and used to purchase Michigan-grown food. Along with those services and more, Earth Works provides plenty of educational resources for people of all ages. Every week they have two classes where children can work in the gardens and later make a meal with the vegetables they grow. There are other youth programs that work more closely with businesses and setting up stands to sell fresh veggies. Apiaries, or bee hives, sit near the gardens and are an aid in learning about the importance of bees in the ecosystem.

For those looking to contribute and learn a bit about gardening, there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to come and help out. The volunteer gardening schedule follows the growing season – from March until the first frost in Fall. Of course, the schedule varies depending on the weather, but there is usually a lot of work, so volunteers are always welcome. Days working there are very busy. For example, when this writer spent the day with them, on Wednesday in early August, the gardens were weeded and then prepared for Fall planting. Many vegetables were harvested, including beets, turnips, and radishes. Workers laid compost across empty gardens to prepare for planting more crops. At the end of the morning, when volunteers were dirty, they got to take home a share of the harvested veggies. Overall, it’s a very intimate, friendly setting.

The volunteers enjoy the intimacy, and there are many reasons they help out:

Altruism: Rosemary Spatafora, who volunteers with her husband, Dennis, says, “It’s good for my soul.” She also remarks, “It benefits other people and is good stress relief. There are good people here.”

Environmental: Will Ahee, who is 19 and just graduated from high school, likes working in the city. He says, “In Detroit, there’s lots of vacant land, and gardening provides a better connection to the land.”

Religious: Steph Maxson wants to one day become a pastor, and she is looking for her “niche.” She says, “I want to take this [experience] into a church. It would be nice to have a community garden in a church.”

Educational: Jonathon Simmons, 12, who has volunteered for the past few weeks with his mom, says, “I feel happy. I’m learning stuff I never saw before. I’m learning different things every time I come.”

It’s easy and fun to get involved with Earth Works. Volunteer days are every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 am to noon. It’s as easy as showing up at the Capuchin soup kitchen and saying that you want to help out in the garden. If working with the Earth and gardening is your passion then Urban Farm Worker Lisa Richter’s words should be an inspiration: “If you have a passion, you have to get involved.”

If gardening is your passion, then what are you waiting for?

To learn more about the organization, find contact information, and join the e-mail list, then visit the website at http://www.earth-works.org/. For more information on Food Deserts in Detroit, visit http://www.marigallagher.com/.

Chris Thompson is a tireless intern for thedetroiter.com and a proud volunteer at Earth Works Garden.