EarthWorks Urban Farm
The EarthWorks Garden started in 1999 as a partnership between the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Gleaners Community Food Bank. The garden started as a small plot of land in the inner city of Detroit and has grown to 3/4 of an acre on three plots near the Meldrum Street Soup Kitchen. Complete with a greenhouse, EarthWork's primary goal is the education of Detroit area school children in areas of science, nutrition and biodiversity of organic agriculture. The project also yields fresh produce to benefit such programs as WIC and the Soup Kitchen's daily meals.
Field Production (farm)
Field production is composed of three parcels of land
1. Soup Kitchen 1,200 square foot parcel - Production- bramble, grape, asparagus and open pollinated vegetable crop;
2. Meldrum Corner 2,988 square feet – bramble and vegetable crop;
3. Gleaners Community Food Bank – 1/3 acre of vegetable production, high-tunnel and small Growing Healthy Kids garden.
The two smaller parcels are owned by the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order with irrigation source provided by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. The 1/3 acre parcel is owned by Gleaners Community Food bank of Metro Detroit. The Food Bank provides water for irrigation. Field Production management is performed by Capuchin Soup Kitchen Staff and Volunteers.
Principal partners are:
Gleaners Community Food Bank and the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Past and current funding Sources:
(Past) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Grant, Ford Foundation, Chevrolet R.O.C.K., Kellogg Foundation, Rice Bowl Grant Archdioceses of Detroit; Capuchin Soup Kitchen operating funds and private donations.
(Current) Berman Foundation; Detroit Industrial School Grant, Paul Newman; capuchin Soup Kitchen operating funds and private donations.
Greenhouse
The 2,200 square foot greenhouse is a commercial greenhouse, roof vented with gas heat, water and electricity. All production is table top with the primary crop organic vegetable seedling production. Seedling production is for EarthWorks fields, Detroit Agricultural Network (DAN) members and Growing Healthy Kids (GHK) programming.
Principal partners are:
Capuchin Soup Kitchen, GHK, Greening of Detroit and DAN. All utilities, maintenance costs and staffing are provided by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Supply cost is shared between the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and USDA Food Security Grant till Oct. 05.
Past and current funding Sources:
(Past) Chevy R.O.C.K., Kellogg Foundation, USDA and Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Private donations.
(Current) Capuchin Soup Kitchen, USDA.
Honeybee Apiary
EarthWorks apiary consists of 16-hives located at 4 sites: 9-hives at Capuchin Retreat, Washington Michigan, 3-hives at Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, 2-hives at Gleaners Community Food Bank and 2-hives at Lakeplain Prairie Farm, Brownstown Twp., Michigan. The honeybee apiary produces honey and other hive products for Earth Works. Also, the apiary program provides opportunities both inside the class room and out in the bee yard to educate student (grade school 4th and 5th) the importance of the honeybee in the natural environment and in the human food system. Apiary operations and maintenance costs are provided by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Principal partners are:
Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Capuchin Retreat, Gleaners Community Food Bank and Lakeplain Prairie Farm.
Past and current funding Sources:
(Past) Capuchin Soup Kitchen, private donations and EPA Region-5.
(Current) The Capuchin Soup Kitchen and private donations.
Composting
The composting process of Earth Works is located at the Food Bank site. Compostable materials are collected weekly from the Capuchin Soup Kitchen/Meldrum, Starbucks Coffee, Avalon Bakery and sometimes from the Food Bank. This material along with leaf and woodchips are combined to create compost for field bedding. Composting management and operational costs are provided by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
Principal partners are:
Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Avalon Bakery and Starbucks Coffee Inc.
Past and current funding Sources:
(Past) Ford Motor Foundation, Capuchin Soup Kitchen and private donations.
(Current) Capuchin Soup Kitchen.