Current Initiatives​

Farmer Grant Program

In 2026 The Office of Sustainability and Eastern Market onboarded nine local farming projects into our Farm- A-Lot Grant Program.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eastern Market and the City of Detroit Announce Recipients of $240,000 Grant Program Supporting Local Farmers and Farmer Collectives

Funding helps Detroit-based growers with advancing food access, climate education, and sustainable land use

'DETROIT, Feb. 5, 2026 — Eastern Market Partnership (Eastern Market), in collaboration with the City of Detroit’s Office of Sustainability Urban Agriculture Division, today announced the recipients of $240,000 in total grant funding to support Detroit-based farmers and farmer collectives serving the broader public.

The grants support community-driven projects that advance food sovereignty, environmental education, climate resilience, and sustainable land use, prioritizing Black- and Indigenous-led farms, youth-led projects, and initiatives rooted in historically disinvested neighborhoods. 

“These farmers and collectives represent the heart of Detroit’s agricultural community,” said Katy Trudeau, Eastern Market President and CEO. “By investing in growers who are cultivating food, knowledge, and resilience in their neighborhoods, the City and Eastern Market are laying the groundwork for lasting impact in our city.”

"Urban farming is such an important part of Detroit that benefits our residents and neighborhoods in so many ways, including access to fresh nutritious foods, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity," said Mayor Mary Sheffield. "I am proud that our Office of Sustainability and Eastern Market are supporting our urban farmers with these grants - particularly Black and Indigenous-led farms and those prioritizing youth-led projects. I also appreciate Councilwoman Calloway's leadership on this issue."

Recipients, selected through a competitive request for proposals process, include:

• Brightmoor Artisans Collective (BAC) 

  • BAC is a Detroit-based nonprofit cooperative organization and community resource hub that provides tailored business development services for food, farmer, and artisan entrepreneurs. 

• Chang Hill Tribe

  • A new Hmong-operated urban farm in Detroit. Grant funds will support community programming, education, and temporary/movable resources and shared Hmong agricultural heritage.

• Foster Patch Community Skills Co-Op (FPCG)

  • A community garden, farm, and green space located in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit. FPCG was founded by Brenda Mae and Alfonzo Sharpe in 2019 and is dedicated to providing culturally relevant food, youth empowerment, and land justice to the community.

• Grow Moore Produce Cooperative 

  • A growing cooperative of twelve Detroit Black-owned farms located across the city that have pooled resources and intelligence to strengthen their combined produce and farm offerings. Trainings funded through this grant will equip growers across the City with hands-on knowledge of working the land as well as more development-related skills to make anyone successful in setting up their growing space.

• Leilu Gardens/Kirsten Kirby-Shoote

  • Leilu (butterfly in Tlingit) is an urban farm in Detroit operated by Kirsten Kirby-Shoote. A few key areas of focus are increasing access to culturally relevant foods, creating educational materials, and introducing programming geared towards cultivating relationships to the land and one another.

• Neighbors Building Brightmoor (NBB)

  • A resident-led collective founded in 2006 to reclaim vacant land and strengthen neighborhood connections through greening and food production. NBB manages multiple garden and orchard sites, operates a shared tool library, and collaborates with youth, artists, and farmers to promote environmental justice and community resilience.

• N.E.W. L.E.A.F. Detroit

  • N.E.W. L.E.A.F. Detroit (No Earth Wasted Living Ecological Awareness Farm) is an environmental nonprofit that provides opportunities for people to learn about sustainable food systems, climate change adaptations, environmental stewardship, and living a more ecologically centered lifestyle.

• Nurturing Our Seeds (NOS)

  • NOS is an urban farm in Detroit that believes access to fresh, healthy food is a fundamental pathway to community empowerment. Grant funds will support plant-based, from scratch cooking classes with sponsored CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares to educate and empower community members around healthy, sustainable eating.

• One New Humanity (ONH)

  • ONH operates an urban farm that is part of a community of urban agriculture located in the Banglatown neighborhood of Detroit. Grant funds will contribute to an urban farming resource hub to offer hands-on learning classes, translated into both Arabic and Bangla.

The grant program is led in partnership with the City of Detroit’s Office of Sustainability Urban Agriculture Division, which works closely with local farmers to provide guidance on land access and connect them with critical city resources.

Success of the initiative was made possible with the support of council member Angela Whitfield‑Calloway, whose leadership and advocacy secured City grant funding.

“Detroit’s urban farmers are feeding families, strengthening neighborhoods, and equipping the next generation with skills in sustainable food and land stewardship,” said council member Angela Whitfield-Calloway. “The strong response to this grant program reflects the city’s desire for a more resilient local food system. Awardees such as the Grow Moore Produce and Brightmoor Artisans Collectives, along with individual farmers like Chang Hill Tribe and Leilu Gardens, are delivering essential services, educating youth, and anchoring food production within our communities. This funding allows them to expand their work, share knowledge, and continue serving residents. Supporting Detroit farmers means investing in healthier families, stronger neighborhoods, and a more sustainable city.”

Work supported by these grants will run through December 2026, with grantees implementing programs that further connect Detroiters with fresh, nutritious food and sustainable agricultural education.

The initiative also advances Eastern Market’s ongoing efforts to grow opportunities for Detroit farmers. In recent years, the Market has expanded programming for small-scale urban growers, including dedicated vending space at Saturday Markets, participation in LFPA food box purchasing, and expanded cold storage and distribution capacity. The current redevelopment of Shed 7 is supported in part by the Gilbert Family Foundation through its $1.5 million commitment to the Authentic Eastern Market campaign, with funding designated to support Shed 7’s development and accessibility for Detroit’s urban farmers.

For more information about Eastern Market and its ongoing initiatives to strengthen local food systems, visit Easternmarket.org."

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City of Detroit Animal Husbandry License & Land Use​

Residents seeking to keep animals or bees must obtain a license through the City of Detroit Animal Control Division. 4H related programs will need to request a meeting with the Urban Agriculture team, CPC,  and Animal Control before you request a Special Land Use Hearing. For 4H meeting request please complete the Ag Related Technical Assistant Link. Click here for the registration link.  The application will be reviewed for compliance with city ordinances and zoning regulations. For all other Animal Husbandry requests, non 4H related, fill out the form here.​ ​

Land Access: Purchasing Land and Permitting​

Interested in starting a land-based project? Visit the BSEED Land-Based Projects page for detailed information on purchasing land and permitting processes.​ ​​

Citywide Composting Program Launch ​ 

The Office of Sustainability is launching a free composting program for residents in 2025 with $100,000 in support from Carhartt, providing supplies, education, and a citywide drop-off site to strengthen community composting efforts. Follow us on our social media page to get real time updates about this program. For more information, contact us at [email protected] and view related links to access the composting landing page.  

Water Consortium & Green Stormwater Infrastructure Projects

The City of Detroit is working to improve water access for urban farms and gardens in Detroit in partnership with the Water Consortium. The Consortium is a collective of agriculture related organizations coming together to help bring multiple governmental departments to the table to improve the system for water tap installations and tote fill-ups. We The People and The Office of Sustainability is working towards GSI solutions for Urban Agriculture and Nature Based Solutions Projects. For more information email us at [email protected]

Bee City Resolution ​

The City of Detroit's Bee City Resolution supports pollinator conservation by promoting sustainable habitats, with the Office of Sustainability collaborating with community organizations to enhance education and local initiatives. Read more here. ​

History of Urban Agriculture in Detroit​ 

Detroit's journey in urban agriculture spans from the early 20th-century Potato Patch Farms to the 1970s Farm-A-Lot Program. Today, with over 2,200 gardens and farms, Detroit is a global leader in transforming vacant lots into vibrant, food-secure neighborhoods. These efforts provide fresh produce, strengthen community ties, promote environmental stewardship, and drive economic growth, showcasing resilience and innovation in urban food systems. Click the link below to see the historical timeline. ​ 

History of Urban Agriculture in Detroit

Guiding Policy Documents​ 

• Urban Agriculture Ordinance of 2013
• Water Access For Detroit Urban Farmers 
• Detroit Food Policy Council 2015​
  • The Detroit Food Policy Council- Food Systems Leaders worked with Councilwoman JoAnn Watson in 2014 to form the DFPC. The councils call to action was to ensured that those bringing food into our communities and the quality of foods provided to our youth and residents were held accountable ​
• Animal Keeping Ordinance of 2024 (Amendment Ch. 6 and Ch. 50)​
  • Animal Keeping Ordinance FAQ​
• City of Detroit Bee City Resolution​
• Urban Bird Treaty of 2017 ​
  • Detroit signed the Urban Bird Treaty in 2017, becoming the 29th US city to do so. The treaty is a collaboration between the city, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other organizations to help birds and their habitats. ​ ​ ​