Michigan Urban Farm Initiative

Standing in the shadows of the New Center area is the Michigan Urban Farm Initiative. A beautiful neighborhood non-profit garden/farm, that provides local residents with fresh affordable produce, as well as instructional programs that nurture residents interested in learning skills that will provide them with the know-how to create and maintain urban farmland.

Founded by Tyson Gersh, and managed by Pinky Jones, the MIFI is one of hundreds of local farms that have sprung up in neighborhoods all over the city of Detroit.

With the immense popularity of the "buy local" movement, Detroit, with its vast amount of vacant land, is a prime breeding ground for sustainable agriculture. As people find new and inventive ways to adapt to the space created by post-industrial economies (aka...shrinking cities), urban-based farming is a perfect fit for communities who must reconcile with the changing landscapes of their neighborhoods.

©tom stoye

©tom stoye