Detroit is getting a new community center and café! But with a green twist - while promoting education, sustainability, and community, The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) tries to reduce socioeconomic disparity and empower urban communities to take part in sustainable agriculture.

The area strecthes over three acres, consisting of a two-acre urban garden with over 300 vegetable varieties, a 200-tree fruit orchard, a children's sensory garden, and more. Every year, the sustainable urban garden provides about 2,000 households with fresh, free produce. Reportedly, MUFI has distributed more than 50,000 pounds of free produce, since its first growing season in 2012.

Since the MUFI's urban agrihood model was very well accepted, the all-volunteer nonprofit organization is now on its way to offer something extra. Teaming up with BASF and Sustainable Brands, MUFi plans to restore a three-story long-vacant building nearby and turn it into a 3,200 square foot Community Resource Center (CRC), which will serve as the venue of various educational programs, event and meeting space, while it will also dub as the organization's new headquarters. Next to it, they also plan to open a healthy food café. The opening of both is scheduled to the end of May 2017.

On top of that, MUFI is working on other projects as well. They include the restoration of a long-vacant home into student intern housing, a two-bedroom shipping container home, and the recent deconstruction of a fire damaged home bordering the farm. 

Dec. 12, 2016 Living photo: The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative

This website uses cookies.
To comply with the EU regulations you must confirm your consent to their use.

You can do that by clicking "OK" or simply continuing to browse this website.
If you do not wish to have cookies set, you can opt out in cookie settings

close