Day Three: Pruning, Seeding, and Composting Oh My!

Hello Everyone!

The day began early in the morning as we all prepared for our first day at Earthworks! Adorned with work boots and multiple layers to combat the cold, we ventured off for our day at the farm. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the welcoming face of a man named Tyler who led us into the building. Once inside we met Wendy, who is the coordinator and head of marketing at Earthworks. Wendy and Tyler then proceeded to teach us some information about Earthworks and about themselves; such as how they entered into the business of urban farming and the logistics of how they run the business. Soon after, we were given a tour of the three main regions of the Earthworks urban farm.

These are some transplants that Earthworks grows for community partners

First, Wendy directed our attention to the processing shed where workers and volunteers thoroughly clean what was harvested from the farm. The wall of the shed had a large styled sign depicting the rules and methods of washing what was harvested. Adjacent to the processing shed was the bike repair area where Earthworks does free bike repairs for community members.

 Afterward, Wendy walked with us to the greenhouse on the Earthworks property. Once inside, Wendy talked about the use of the greenhouse as a center for the growth of newly planted saplings. Earthworks is responsible for doing 40% of the germination and transplanting of seeds in the city of Detroit. Next, we moved to a structure similar to the greenhouse called the hoophouse. The hoophouse is run via solar energy rather than natural gas like the greenhouse. Therefore, the hoophouse is more suitable for growing plants that are less temperature-dependent. In addition, collected rainwater is stored in large containment barrels to be used for their drip irrigation systems. The last region was Gleaner’s field, where we saw an area designated for field production and composting. 

Doug in his natural habitat

Alesha and her composting!!!

After our tour, we went to lunch in the Capuchin soup kitchen located within the Earthworks community. Earthworks donates 90% of its harvested products to the soup kitchen. While there, we sat among community members and shared a filling meal, preparing us for a busy afternoon. Supplied with work gloves and pruning shears, we headed out into the Earthworks orchard to learn from the farm manager Patrick. He taught us the interesting methods of pruning the apple and pear trees found within the orchard. Without hesitation, we began clearing away excess branches from the trees stimulating further future growth. 

Here is Patrick teaching us how to prune some of the trees in the orchard

Patrick made an excellent observation while teaching our group about pruning the fruit trees. He stated that he really was not teaching us about how to prune trees. Rather, he was teaching us about life. He said that similar to the complexity of the tree branches, the complexity of our lives can be made simpler by clearing away what is unnecessary and focusing upon the central framework that gives our lives meaning. As we pruned more and more trees, Tyler told the entire group interesting riddles which brought us closer to him as well as each other. He made a point of making us feel welcome and was able to keep smiles on our faces as we worked in the orchard. 

Nothing beats pruning trees in Detroit!

Overall, the day's experience was mentally and physically stimulating as we delved into the complex world of urban farming and community building in Detroit. One of the major lessons we took from today is that change in the world does not have to be a large endeavor, rather small contributions can make a major difference. 

Sincerely,

-Sara Greb, Sophomore Physician Assistant Major 

-Chloe Adiutori, Freshman Pharmacy Major