Brightmoor Garden Project

Growing a Community: Urban Gardening and Farming in Detroit, MI

OVERVIEW:

- The MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program has collaborated on this project since its inception in 2007.

- The Brightmoor Garden Project is based on the hypothesis that having a tie with the earth creates a responsibility with individuals.

- A project goal is to develop urban gardening and farming in the Brightmoor area of Detroit.

- The project concept is based on using the potato as a foundation in the urban gardening concept.

GOALS:

- Connect the community to MSU education programs for urban gardening and farming.

- Continue to integrate our project with the Detroit Agricultural Network.

- Distribute food in the community for consumption and sale.

- Foster ownership of gardens in the community.

GARDEN SITES:

- Eliza Howell Park (adjacent to Murphy Middle School).

- Trinity St and Pilgrim St.

- O’Shea Recreation Center.

- Lahser St and Pilgrim St.

A COOPERATIVE PROJECT WITH:

- Northwest Detroit Neighborhood Development
http://ndndhomes.org

- Michigan State University Extension
http://msue.msu.edu

- Project GREEEN
http://greeen.msu.edu

- MSU Potato Breeding & Genetics Program
http://msu.edu/~douchesd

- State House Rep. Gabe Leland
http://house.mi.gov/gleland

- The Greening of Detroit
http://greeningofdetroit.com

FURTHER INFORMATION:

- Progress report of activities from 2007 (PDF).

- Slideshow chronicaling an overview of the project from 2007 (large PDF ~15 MB).