Conversations with Cadillac Urban Gardens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cadillac Urban Gardens. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Cadillac Urban Gardens (CUGM) is a one-acre urban garden located in Detroit, Michigan, on the former grounds of the Cadillac Clark Street Plant’s Executive parking lot. In 2012 as a community collaboration between non-profits, businesses, schools, and other local community organizations, CUGM was developed with and for the community in mind. This garden since 2012 has been able to repurpose 331 shipping containers from GM and utilize them as our raised beds to grow fresh produce the community can harvest without cost. These efforts have made CUGM one of Southeast Michigan’s largest raised bed urban gardens. 

CUGM’s mission is to help create a system of equitable access and availability to culturally relevant food across Detroit while developing the tools needed for residents, young and old, to become leaders within their communities. Through this, we aim to provide a space for communities to come together to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, promote food sustainability, and uplift their neighborhood through place-based intergenerational learning and empowerment. 

The garden provides a space for community members to come together to grow produce, promote food sovereignty, and beautify their neighborhoods through place-based intergenerational learning. In turn, the garden provides food security for residents and has become a model for sustainable gardening practices. CUGM not only helps create a system of equitable access and availability of culturally relevant food across but develops the tools needed for residents to become leaders within their communities. 

Since 2012 CUGM has hosted over 60,000 hours of service within the garden with volunteers and visitors coming from all across Detroit, the State of Michigan, the country, and the world, prevented over 10.5 tons (23,170 pounds) of metal from entering the waste stream, grown on average 2 tons of free, culturally relevant produce per year given for Detroit residents per year, and has mentored over 100 youth who have volunteered, interned, or supported CUGM through a variety of youth-driven and led projects. 

Here at CUGM, we don’t just grow produce but leaders and environmental stewards who have already begun to enact change regarding food access and health across Southwest Detroit. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With any community-based initiative, overall sustainability via funding can be a struggle. Due to the nature of the space, CUGM does not sell any of its produce but provides all items for free without question. As a result, the garden heavily relies on donations and grants to ensure the work done for food security and community development can continue. However, despite these challenges, the garden works hard to adapt and ensure the community remains at the forefront of what we do. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Cadillac Urban Gardens mission is to help create a system of equitable access and availability of culturally relevant food across Detroit while developing the tools needed for residents, young and old, to become leaders within their communities. CUGM provides a space for communities to come together to grow produce, promote food sovereignty, and uplift their neighborhood through place-based intergenerational learning and empowerment via the activities and programs we provide. The garden serves our Detroit community in a variety of ways. Some ways we are able to create sustainable and equitable change include utilizing Cadillac Urban Gardens as: 

A Living Learning Lab: Community-based citizen science and research can lead to empowered neighborhoods and improved community health. Here at CUGM, we take a community-based approach to research to ensure information is used to improve the lives of Southwest Detroiters, our programs and spread awareness of environmental issues occurring here in our Southwest Detroit community using CUGM as a hub for community and university place-based research. 

A Space to Provide Access to Produce: Since 2012, CUGM has provided a space for community members to come together to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, promote food sovereignty, and beautify their neighborhoods through place-based intergenerational learning. On average, 2 tons of free produce is distributed to 900 residents annually. 

A Community Driven Space: CUGM prides itself on being a community and youth-driven space where decisions and programming developed within the garden are articulated and developed by Detroit residents and youth. Our approach creates a flow of multigenerational leadership where residents, young and old, have the opportunity to create and make change here in Southwest Detroit. CUGM has provided residents with the ability to change the trajectory of their lives, enabling them to pursue career and educational goals within the environmental, food, science, and agricultural fields. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Without our original partners, CUGM would not be what it is today. When CUGM launched in 2012, Rush Trucking aided in the effort and delivered 250 of our raised beds to our Merritt Street location without the help of our original partners such as the Ideal Group, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Congress of Communities, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, LA SED, Latino Family Services, GM, Rush Trucking, Detroit Dirt, Detroit Cristo Rey High School, and of course our Southwest Detroit residents CUGM would not have been able to begin. Present day we leverage our partnerships with the University of Michigan Campus Farm, SDEV, University of Detroit Mercy, Ideal Group, and Urban Neighborhoods Initiatives to create sustained change through the programming, research, and internships that occur within the space. Without our past, present, and future partnerships, CUGM would not be where it is today and where it’s meant to go. 

Pricing:

• Our produce is always free!

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CadillacUrbanGardens
• Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/cadillacurbangardens/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/-vPpw4zAfrg