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INVESTIGATOR: Rushdan, T.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
GREENING OF DETROIT, THE
1418 MICHIGAN AVE
DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48216

FARMING DETROIT -- AN EDUCATION AND TRAINING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GREENING OF DETROIT AND THE DETROIT BLACK COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY NETWO

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The Greening of Detroit (The Greening) and the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) propose a collaborative project called Farming Detroit that will increase the number and the success of the city's beginning farmers through education, training and mentoring that addresses the specific needs of limited-resource urban growers. The project will serve limited-resource beginning farmers that are socially disadvantaged, often facing multiple barriers to opportunities for economic self-sustainability. This grant provides the organizations with an opportunity to take the apprenticeship programs to the next level, and formalize a partnership that will improve and standardize the training curriculum by capitalizing on each one's strengths and increasing access to resources such as shared farm sites, teachers, and equipment. Merging the two programs will maximize the use of expertise and best practices learned by each organization in previous years, and provide for more efficient use of financial, human and material resources, and greater efficiencies in administrative staff costs.

OBJECTIVES: Provide an urban agriculture apprenticeship program that serves 10 beginning farmers each year that includes six months of training, work and educational experiences to build skills and knowledge that prepare apprentices for careers in urban agriculture.100% of those participating will be beginning farmers (those who have operated a farmer for less than ten years). At least 80% will be residents of Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park, will be socially disadvantaged and have access to limited resources.Participants will earn $9-12 in hourly wages (depending on experience) through the apprenticeship, totaling $8,190-$10,920 in compensation by the end of the season.Apprentices will receive 900 hours of classroom training and in-the-field growing experience on topics that include soil management, composting, pest control, crop planning, irrigation, farm equipment, community organizing, marketing, land acquisition, financial and risk management. Apprentices also will participate in training and activities to build their understanding of community needs related to Detroit's food system, and learn about opportunities to strengthen the community's voice and participation in issues of food access and security.At the end of the six-month apprenticeship, participants will demonstrate gains in knowledge and understanding of agriculture production techniques, crop farming and farm business operations to support their capacity to successfully engage in sustainable, small-scale urban farming in Detroit. All apprentices will report confidence in performing at least 80% of tasks listed on an 80-point post-training assessment.At the end of the six-month apprenticeship, participants will report increases in their knowledge of community resources, including connections and relationships with other farmers in addition to organizations, businesses and sector leaders, to support their success.50% of apprentices will be employed in agriculture work within six months of completing the program, and 25% of all apprentices trained will be engaged in a new farm startup.