DETROIT — Keep Growing Detroit is hosting its Annual Tour of Detroit Urban Gardens and Farms Aug. 7 that will give participants a sampling of over 1,400 gardens in the city by bus or bike.
This year’s event will feature themed bus tour routes: “Fresh Perspectives,” featuring youth gardens; “Fertile Ground,” exploring the cooperative efforts of garden communities; “Farm to Fork,” highlighting production-focused gardens and the pathways our local food travels; and “Apples Beets Carrots,” a glimpse of how school gardens are reframing nutrition education.
Bike riding tour routes include: “Growing Entrepreneurs,” featuring how businesses are connecting to good food; “Changing Landscapes,” examining Detroit’s open space and the policies that govern them; and “Hidden City Gems,” displaying diverse gardens spread throughout Detroit neighborhoods.
In addition to visiting a variety of gardens on each tour, guests will also learn about innovative food system partners and initiatives that work in tandem with the efforts of the urban agriculture community.
With each passing season, Detroit’s urban agriculture community is growing stronger, with more gardens, more farmers selling their products locally, more schools providing fresh perspectives of food for their students and more communities utilizing gardens as a tool for neighborhood change.
All tours will leave from Eastern Market Shed 3, located east of Russell Street between Adelaide and Division streets in Detroit. Sign-in begins at 5 p.m. and tours will leave at 6 p.m.
After the tour, there will be a reception featuring locally-grown food and refreshments prepared by local chefs. The cost for the tour ranges from $5-$75.
For more information or to register, visit www.detroitagriculture.net or call 313.757.2635. For parties larger than six, call 313.757.2635.