MUSKEGON, MI – Nestled into neighborhoods, located next to busy streets and bordered by buildings, urban farms in Muskegon provide locally grown produce to the community.
As winter enters the rear view, these small-scale farms occupying city parcels are planting seeds and gearing up for a busy growing season.
Stillwind Farm, a quarter-acre plot on the corner of Temple Street and West Summit Avenue in Muskegon Heights, will be growing greens, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs in its first full season.
“A lot of stuff,” said farmer Mikayla Rowden. “It’s a really small space. I have to get creative.”
The for-profit farm sells produce through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program, a method for consumers to directly support farmers ahead of the growing season. Members of the CSA can pick up the fresh produce at the Rake Beer Project and the Fulton Street Farmers Market in Grand Rapids, Rowden said.
Stillwind Farm is also running a pay-it-forward fund that will provide free access to food.
Located across the street from Roosevelt Apartments, Rowden hopes the visible farm helps foster a healthy local food system and inspires others to learn about growing food.
“I want to make sure that people in Muskegon are able to grow their own vegetables if they want to and empower anyone to start farming or gardening,” she said.
Farmer Mikayla Rowden launched Stillwind Farm in late 2020. This spring and summer will be her first full growing season running the Muskegon Heights urban farm. (Photo provided by Mikayla Rowden)
The Wokestead, a half-acre farm in the Marquette neighborhood, provides fresh produce through a CSA and a mobile market. Samantha Otto also uses her farm as a launchpad for wellness education and workshops.
“What I want the community to get from it is really just reconnecting with and navigating our local food system. I want people to be aware that this food is for everybody,” she said.
Both women launched their farms in the last year and said urban farming is paired with community, from conversations with neighbors to discussions about produce at farmers markets.
“The highlight of urban farming is the people who come together around it,” said Otto.
McLaughlin Grows, a non-profit farm operated by Community enCompass, fills a city block on Laketon Avenue next to Hackley Hospital with rows of plants, a hoop house and a nursery.
The educational-based farm grew over 10,000 pounds of produce last year.
“We want people from the community to come and learn how to grow their own food,” said farm manager Tristen Schultz.
McLaughlin Grows occupies a block on Leahy Street and E. Laketon Avenue. (Photo by Rose White | MLive)
The McLaughlin neighborhood farm grows 40 to 50 varieties of crops each year, Schultz said. Those vegetables include radishes, kale, beets, lettuce, onions and spinach.
A 40-person CSA supported by a Michigan Farm to Family grant offers a box of fresh fruits and vegetables each week for $5 to families with SNAP benefits.
Muskegon has a high percentage of families receiving food assistance and low food access, according to a Michigan Health Fund report from last year.
Schultz says urban farms can help bridge the gap on providing healthy food to the community.
“Having access to fresh, locally grown produce is really important,” he said.
McLaughlin Grows also sells at the Muskegon Farmers Market and gives away extra produce at a farm stand during the summer.
More information about urban farms’ CSAs can be found here from Stillwind Farm, The Wokestead and McLaughlin Grows.
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The Link LonkApril 10, 2021 at 06:17PM
https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2021/04/urban-farms-offer-muskegon-community-fresh-locally-grown-produce.html
Urban farms offer Muskegon community fresh, locally grown produce - mlive.com
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