Detroit, Part 4

Potato plants carry on the automotive industry tradition!

The building in the background is unfortunately now a see-through building.  Because the city's ash trees are dying due to the Emerald Ash Borer, the city uses this now vacant land as a tree nursery for future transplants.

Nearby, surrounded by an expanse of lawn, there were raised beds and this long row of tomatoes, for selling at a market.

With another view of the butterfly and thistle, we now say goodbye to the Detroit blogs. Seeing the empty expanses and the endeavours to grow food in Detroit had quite an impact on me.  Cities are all so different, and they change and evolve.  I wonder what is ahead for Vancouver with all its high-end construction--what will survive and be viable in the future global economy?  If you want to learn more about Detroit, link here:   Urban Roots

Detroit, Part 3

Hope Takes Root is a community garden in the North Corktown neighbourhood. It is one of the older community gardens in the city, originally started in a different site and in its current location since 2002.

This structure collects rain water, essential in the summer.

Hoops, not in use right now, with the water structure in the background.

I liked this creative metal gate.  Beyond it is their bee hive project, helpful to all nearby gardens.  Click here for a video on their active bee hives 

 

Hope Takes Root, again!

A variety of things are grown here, hops, the usual vegetables, and even apples!

 

Bikes are a practical way to get around in this depopulated neighbourhood that is lacking the public transit a more populated area would require.  We saw bike racks like these in this garden as well as in a number of other places.

Watch for Detroit, Part 4!

Detroit, Part 2

In the distance behind other growth, you can see corn, beans, and squash (the "three sisters").  One could imagine that years ago, before there was a Detroit, native people grew these same plants near this plot.

 

 Peppers, tomatoes, and squash are found in this greenhouse.

This corner lot was very neatly kept, but the surprise was the ground cover--it is purslane.  I would never have imagined letting this deeply-rooted weed sprawl, but it probably helps the soil retain moisture.

 Here is a close-up of the purslane.

 

Watch for Detroit, Part 3!

Detroit, Part 1

We spent the morning of August 20 exploring one of the depopulated areas of Detroit.  I wanted to see the urban gardens and farms that have been created there.  Uninhabited derelict houses have been removed, and in some areas grass has been planted and is mowed.  Other areas have been left to grow wild.  Streets are deserted, and it is very quiet like being in the countryside, despite seeing buildings in the distance.  The infrastructure is crumbling.  It was eerie to think of all the working people in those neighbourhood, now gone along with their homes. Where are they now?

A back lane, soon to disappear.

The sidewalk disappears into the wilderness.

A crumbling sidewalk, but trimmed and weed-free!  This was next to an extensive corner garden.

 

In case anyone has views to remodel, this house is an example of why not.  Perhaps it is still standing because someone lived in it until recently.

But even the wild plants, and perhaps especially the wild plants, attract great insects!  I came across this scene in one of the gardens.

Watch for Part 2!

Urban + Farming

I used to consider the words "farming" and "urban" as opposites. Now the two words are being joined together--"urban farming". More and more people are interested in this concept, "farming" has gone upscale, and training courses abound. Here is one taking place in downtown Vancouver:

Urban Farmer Field School program

This program is tailored to growing and farming food in Vancouver. Using the YWCA Metro Vancouver Rooftop Garden as our classroom, students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning about urban agroecosystems. For 2012, we are offering 14 classes related to food production, community food systems, small-farm business planning, city chickens and coop construction, urban soil management and season extension. Students can sign up for several classes, or just one. Registration is open and school starts on April 5 with Managing a Direct-Market Small Scale Farm.