Action Days draw all kinds of people together, some who know each other and others who create new, strong connections formed doing meaningful work while being immersed in the stimulating energy of learning, loving and acting in service and collectivism. Detroit, MI was the first stop on the Permaculture Action Network’s Solidarity Tour and remains a shining example of all the connection and networking that an Action Day can bring.
A brave confluence of Detroiters and visitors showed up to Spirit Farm, neighbor to Spirit of Hope in North Corktown of Detroit, Michigan. People gathered on a cold morning with warm smiles for a full day of hands-on farm projects and potent, free workshops that offered education, resources and strategies from local experts.
This particular Action Day was organized to directly address the very real consequences of gentrification locally. The projects chosen helped affirm the collective need to build awareness, skill and concepts required for increased autonomy and resiliency. Continue reading for more on this Action Day’s projects and workshops.
Detroit’s recent redevelopment, gentrification and inequities in city services have plagued a lot of long-time residents. These forces have been driving dividing change in historical neighborhoods. In the wake of all this, Cork Town, Detroit’s oldest neighborhood, has undergone significant redevelopment and Spirit Farm and Spirit of Hope have continued to be resources and bastions for those who are holding their ground and for all who seek a green space, community resiliency and refuge in the city.
Spirit Farm has been occupied for 11 years, beginning when the city gave away land hand-over-fist to anyone who would steward it and take it from the city’s stagnant and overwhelming inventory of unused assets.
“Spirit Farm was founded to address food security and social justice in the city of Detroit and in North Corktown, Woodbridge, and Core City in particular. A free and open space 24/7 to take a green break in the city. Watch the flowers grow, watch the butterflies or dragonflies, visit neighborhood pheasants, or plant a small plot of veggies. We have supplied tons of food for the food pantry at Spirit of Hope and to Food Not Bombs over the past years. All of our volunteers are able to grow and/or share in the harvest,” primary farm steward Tuka wrote.
“Since August 5th, 2007, Spirit Farm has been a hub for a Sustainable Community Education Series. We have hosted Scott Kellogg, Sepp Holzer, Keith Johnson, Larry Santoyo, Edie Mukiibi, Heather Flores, Detroit Urban Farmers, Allied Media Cooks, US Social Forum Activities, Weekly Permaculture Study Group 2008-2010, and many classes of children from preschool to college.”
In exchange for showing up to the Action Day, attendees were provided a plethora of learning opportunities at the farm. The day began with an orientation to hands-on projects and commenced by reorganizing and repairing a 24×48 foot greenhouse, establishing and shaping new and old composting systems, grooming and putting a central medicine wheel garden to rest for the winter, constructing a 24×8 foot rainwater harvesting system for the sake of water autonomy and to move the farm off of its dependence on city water, and last but certainly not least, the build of a bona-fide pig house for the farm’s therapy pig.
“Urban agriculture has exploded in Detroit over the past dozen years. We acknowledge Detroit’s rich urban farming past and we see ourselves at Spirit Farm as an educational hub for sustainability long into the future. Like the Slow Foods Movement, and the Slow Arts Movement we are taking it Slow; we are a slow growth farm incorporating Native Michigan plants, flowers, herbs, heirloom vegetables, small fruit trees, and bees. We are visualizing a sweet future of continued community support, sustainable education, and features incorporated into the farm,” Tuka said.
Biko and David from Rising Appalachia, working in the garden
“As an older, well-established garden in the city, we often serve as a gathering place for community events and serve as an open classroom for workshops from Keep Growing Detroit, Greening of Detroit, DUST (Detroit Urban Sustainability Training) Workshops, along with other community groups. We believe in building Blue-Green Infrastructure in the city of Detroit for a healthier future city. We are grateful to be a part of the Urban Ag Movement here in Detroit.”
Leah Song of Rising Appalachia and Action Day attendees moving mulch
Music curated for the Action Day filled the farm space while the outdoors buzzed with community voices and the sounds of hand and power tools being put to good use. Throughout the day, announcements were made on the loudspeaker to call attention to the ongoing workshops taking place indoors. Participants were encouraged to move back and forth between the spaces as they so desired.
Workshops offered by locals covered pertinent topics for staying resilient through the changes driven by monied interests. Sessions began with an opening blessing from Rosebud Bear Schneider. Rosebud then went on to teach a session regarding Food Security, Revitalizing Indigenous foodways & An Introduction to Indigenous led Sacred Roots Farm. She was followed by Governance, Blockchain and Economic Security w/ Ingrid LaFleur who has recently run for Mayor as an outspoken afrofuturist; Housing Security & The Detroit Land Bank w/ Michelle Oberholtzer of United Community Housing Coalition and The Tricycle Collective; Water Security w/ Rebeka Larson, a recent winner of squatter’s rights in the city of Detroit and member of The People’s Water Board Coalition; Adapt: A Permaculture Game w/ Brigit O’Brien; Health, Wellness & The Remedy: Afrosonic Liberation Sessions w/ June and Sustainability in Detroit w/ Kyle Kentala, Detroit Sustainability Ambassador for district 2, working on behalf of the newly formed Office of Sustainability for the city of Detroit to engage the neighborhoods on the actions, agenda plans and overall sustainable practices of the city. Volunteer note-takers documented all of the workshops.
As workshops came to a close indoors, the pig house and rain catchment system were completed outside as the sun set and we began to transition into the after party.
Local business and farm-to-table food truck Pink Flamingo served gourmet food to those who stuck around and those just arriving. The night was turned on with Detroit artist, Peace to Mateo, a Detroit-based Young Heavy Souls artist, who was followed by Rising Appalachia taking the stage and providing a beautiful live experience in the ornate stained glass adorned sanctuary of Spirit of Hope. David Brown, of Rising Appalachia, performed remixes and more original material as Castanea after the full band’s performance and Leah Song’s gratitude, excitement and hope for the day’s work and the Solidarity Tour’s continuation to Chicago, Minneapolis and beyond.
Ornate benefit concert in Spirit of Hope sanctuary
Rising Appalachia, similar to Spirit Farm, champions a slow music movement and encourages fan bases to root down, get with the earth and connect as community. The suggested-donation-based show raised funds to help continue the work.
Special thanks for Jessica Martin and crew for being powerhouses in the kitchen, keeping us nourished and energized with food as medicine and to the Spirit of Hope soup kitchen crew for sharing the space with us to patiently and graciously. Thank you to Honey Bee Market La Colmena, Justin Shinaustin of Imperial Fresh Market and everyone else who provided food donations for the cause.
Big thanks to Ray and team at Brooks Lumber for donating building supplies for projects so last minute. When other tentative donations fell through, you showed up to actually save the day and not only that, but you brought humor, joy and were an absolute pleasure to connect with.
Special thanks to Jessica Palace and Chrissie Bingham for collecting information from all workshop presenters and creating beautifully crafted resource binder and resource board that will be retained by Spirit of Hope and Spirit Farm into the future with intention to keep them active and growing. Those who steward the space were deeply moved by the work that went into creating these useful gifts. Spirit of Hope serves as a community center to various long-standing residents and your efforts have already made an impact by increasing access and awareness to needed (asked for) solutions and local allies.
Thank you also to Anthony and the Crow Manner Anarchist Collective for project and material support.
Thank you to everyone who helped out with sound and lighting for the benefit concert, to those who stuck around after the show to help us reset the space and to those who keep the community center and garden thriving on a daily basis.
Thank you Pastor Lindsey, Tuka and Norm! Norm, you are the man. Thank you for welcoming us so graciously, for giving us a hard time in good fun, for sharing your wisdom, expertise and your story. We love you.
For the full photo album from the day, visit https://www.facebook.com/permacultureaction/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1334454113370776
Written by Permaculture Action Network organizers Kammer Moss and Hillary Walton of the Great Lakes BioRegional Crew
Photos taken by Alexa Levy and other Permaculture Action Network organizers
