As The MorningSide Grassrots Garden Grows

On a beautiful, sunny day Habitat for Humanity Detroit, in partnership with the Rocket Community Fund, came together to add the next steps of transformation to MorningSide’s Grassroots Garden. More than 35 volunteers from the Rocket family of companies gave their time and energy to assist Habitat’s staff and core volunteers with projects to enhance the existing garden space. Motown hits filled the air as volunteers and staff worked side by side on multiple projects including building benches, pulling up weeds, planting the summer crops, and laying down mulch, mulch, and more mulch! One of the most impressive projects can now be seen in the southeast corner of the garden – a newly built water catchment system. This structure will allow for easy rain collection that can later be utilized to water the plants and finally make the garden a self-sustaining green space!

Raised garden beds were given new life with a variety of plants and a chalkboard was installed with the hopes of inspiring both community notifications, social gatherings, and educational opportunities. While there was plenty of hard work there were also plenty of smiles and laughter. Volunteers enjoyed a delicious boxed lunch courtesy of Motor City Casino and the Habitat staff spent the day ensuring everyone stayed well-hydrated.

Through working on the Grassroots Garden project, Habitat Detroit hopes to impact the MorningSide neighborhood in positive ways beyond homeownership. Habitat Detroit also enjoyed spreading the message of our mission to those who volunteered and community members who stopped by to learn more about our work.

Many thanks for their generous support are owed to Branden Recker for facilitating and executing a vision he co-designed with Garden facilitators, the Rocket Community Fund, Motor City Casino, as well as the outstanding members of the MorningSide Community Organization. Without support from sponsors and investment from the local community, Habitat Detroit’s work cannot move forward. While the volunteers planted vegetables and built useful structures, the goal was also to plant seeds of hope and help build the future of Detroit.

For more information on Habitat Detroit’s programming or ways to get involved please visit www.habitatdetroit.org and to volunteer with the garden please email growingmorningside@gmail.com/.

Before: Grassroots Garden prior to its restoration.

After: The current landscape of the improved Grassroots Garden.