Keep Growing Detroit Raises Funds to Purchase Farm in Eastern Market | Eater Detroit

"An urban farm and program hub operating on a 1.3-acre Eastern Market lot is raising funds to buy the land outright to secure long-term food-sovereignty work across Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck. The early-April campaign includes a dollar-for-dollar anonymous matching gift up to $20,000 available through Friday, April 30, and aims to protect and expand services that include the nationally recognized Garden Resource Program and Grown in Detroit, online produce ordering with curbside pickup, transplant distributions, and virtual cooking and education classes. Demand surged during COVID-19—resources were provided to nearly 2,000 urban farms and family gardens in 2020—and leadership helped establish the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund that raised $60,000 for local growers. Purchasing the Eastern Market parcel would enable permanent structures, additional greenhouse and high-tunnel capacity, and expanded food-distribution and training capacity so the organization can deepen its community roots amid ongoing local food-access challenges (a 2017 report estimated about 48% of city households lack adequate affordable nutritious food)." - Courtney Burk