Last updated: October 2024
D-Town Farm, located within Detroit’s River Rouge Park, is a landmark urban agriculture initiative led by the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN). Since its establishment in 2008, this seven-acre farm—the largest in Detroit—has embodied the organization’s commitment to food sovereignty, justice, and security for the city’s African American community. Each year, the farm cultivates over 30 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs using sustainable and regenerative practices. Key operations include large-scale composting, rainwater retention, solar energy generation, and beekeeping, all of which support its ecological and educational missions. Beyond production, D-Town Farm serves as a community hub. From May through September, it hosts public events that offer educational and recreational opportunities for children and families. The farm also provides hands-on training for aspiring growers through internships and volunteer programs, fostering community engagement and agricultural skill development. Volunteers play a crucial role in daily operations, with ongoing opportunities available throughout the growing season. D-Town Farm’s mission extends beyond agriculture, serving as a platform for broader advocacy. By challenging barriers to food access, it addresses food deserts with a focus on empowerment and education. The farm supports the local economy by supplying fresh produce to restaurants, farmers markets, and residents, while its health-focused initiatives, such as the youth-centered Food Warriors Development Program, aim to reduce health disparities within the community. The DBCFSN’s work at D-Town Farm exemplifies a model of community cooperation and self-determination, promoting equity and justice in the food system. By engaging with both local and broader urban communities, D-Town Farm not only strengthens Detroit’s leadership in urban agriculture but also contributes to food justice movements nationwide. (Ref.1,2,3,4)
D-town Farm Detroit Vegetable Beds
DBCFSN
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Soil quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Preservation of historic traditions
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social justice and equity
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
- Food scarcity / security
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Resource Scarcity and Competition
- Food insecurity due to disruptions in food production and distribution
Key priorities
Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Creation of lakes or ponds, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Protection of agroecology approaches (agroforestry & silvopastoral systems), Sustainable use of natural resources to improve livelihoods and food security (eg. community- based wildlife or forest management), Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
To enhance local food access and address health disparities by cultivating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs through sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, reducing reliance on external food sources.
To empower the local community through education and engagement, offering formal internships, volunteer opportunities, recreational opportunities, and public events that teach agricultural skills, promote healthy eating, and foster community cohesion.
To implement sustainable practices such as large-scale composting (soil remediation), rainwater retention, flooding remediation from the nearby river, and beekeeping.
To strengthen the local economy by supplying fresh produce to local markets, restaurants, and residents and by supporting the development of a localized food system through participation in the Detroit Food Policy Council.
To challenge conventional definitions of food deserts by advocating for a more nuanced and empowered approach to food justice that can serve as a model for other urban centers.
To preserve and promote African indigenous and local Native agricultural practices in order to honor cultural heritage and diversity. (Ref. 1-4)
Implementation activities
The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) engages in urban agriculture on its seven-acre farm, emphasizing sustainability and community involvement. Cultivation of crops is a key focus, with DBCFSN staff and volunteers growing over 30 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs each year using sustainable methods.
To support these efforts, DBCFSN emphasizes infrastructure construction and maintenance. Volunteers have built and maintain three hoop houses to extend the growing season. The organization also manages a comprehensive irrigation system, including underground waterlines and hydrants, and conducts large-scale composting to enrich the soil.
Community engagement and education are central to DBCFSN’s mission. From May to September, staff organizes public events for children and families, fostering community connection. They also offer internships and training sessions for new growers, led by staff and experienced volunteers.
Regarding market and distribution, DBCFSN staff and volunteers sort, pack, and distribute fresh produce to local restaurants, farmers markets, and directly to the community during market days, ensuring access to nutritious food.
Lastly, DBCFSN implements environmental and energy management initiatives, including a solar energy system, rainwater retention pond, and beekeeping, all contributing to sustainability goals.
(Ref.1,2,3,4)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Disadvantaged ethnic or racial groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) (activist and minority NGO) serves as the lead organization responsible for implementing the urban agriculture project. Local volunteers and interns play a vital role in the farm's operations, participating in various activities that help sustain the farm while gaining valuable agricultural skills. Youth and families benefit from educational programs and events designed to promote healthy eating and environmental awareness. University of Michigan students have contributed to the project by assessing agroecological pest management strategies at D-Town Farm, further enhancing the farm’s sustainable practices. DBCFSN is funded through dues and the contributions of members and supporters. DBCFSN is a membership organization. The NGO also received funding from the Kellogg Foundation, various USDA grants, private companies (Whole Foods).
(Ref.1,2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Detroit Food Policy strategy (Ref. 1))
Type of enablers
Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching), Collaboration with other projects that implemented NBS
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Corporate investment
- Crowdfunding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
- Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Achieved improved soil quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Achieved increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Achieved improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Achieved enhanced support of pollination
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
- More sustainable tourism
- Achieved more sustainable tourism
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Achieved increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
- Achieved generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Achieved increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Achieved promotion of cultural diversity
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
DBCFSN (n.d.). FAQ Build Black Food Sovereignty with Us. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Wey, T. (2012). D-Town Farm. Uix Detroit, Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (n.d.). D-Town Farm. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Visit Detroit (n.d.). Detroit's Greener Side | Detroit Urban Farming. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Mendoza, A. (n.d.). River Rouge. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
6.
The Ohio State University IPM Program (2024). D-Town Farm Detroit. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
7.
White, M. (2018). D-Town Farm: African American Resistance to Food Insecurity and the Transformation of Detroit. Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Carver, L.; Venugopal, A. (2019). Agroecological Pest Management Strategies at D-town Farm. Accessed on September 3, 2024,;
9.
Catallo, C. (2017). D-Town Farm Soldiers On. Edible Wow, Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Sharp, R. (2013). “Planting seeds of justice and harvesting freedom” at the D-Town Farm Harvest Festival. Knight Foundation, Accessed on September 3, 2024, [Source link];
D-Town Farm
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=707487641422093&set=pb.100064825903956.-2207520000
D-Town Farm
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=707487641422093&set=pb.100064825903956.-2207520000
D-town Farm Detroit Market
Flickr
Man posing with welcome to D-town Farm harvest festival sign
Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund
D-Town Farm
https://ediblewow.ediblecommunities.com/food-thought/d-town-farm-soldiers
D-Town Farm
https://ediblewow.ediblecommunities.com/food-thought/d-town-farm-soldiers
D-Town Farm
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=707487641422093&set=pb.100064825903956.-2207520000
D-Town Farm
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=707487641422093&set=pb.100064825903956.-2207520000
D-Town Farm
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=707487641422093&set=pb.100064825903956.-2207520000
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.