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From the Archives
Michigan’s “Garden for Growth” Program
I love my state. I love that Michiganders are, overall, a hard-working bunch who still know how to have a good time every once in a while. Raised in sub-zero winters and 90+ degree summers, we are forced to be tough and resourceful.
Take the foreclosure crisis. It is downright depressing how many homes are in foreclosure, whether in the city of Detroit or the more posh suburbs of Grosse Pointe, Bloomfield Hills, or Birmingham. I watched neighbors pack up their belongings yesterday, yet more victims of foreclosure.
In February of last year, Michigan had the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Now, we rank 7th in the country as our broken economy burdens traditionally well-to-do states such as California and Colorado.
But back to that resourcefulness. Rather than let these abandoned and foreclosed lots sit empty, that state of Michigan has cataloged them and made them available for either individuals or groups to garden on. It’s called the “Garden for Growth” program, and I have more details in my Detroit Gardening Examiner column today.
As I mentioned in the column, the database lists two properties right in my own hometown of Harper Woods. Harper Woods is tiny. You can ride your bike from one end to the other and not even break a sweat. Yet I can look out my door and see the signs popping up daily: for sale signs, rental signs, auction signs. I’m glad that the state is trying to make something useful out of this mess. It shows that not only does someone in state government realize that vacancy leads to blight, but that encouraging sustainable living in these harsh times is necessary.
Does your state or county offer a program like this? If it has, have you taken advantage of it?
4 comments
4 comments to “Michigan’s “Garden for Growth” Program”
Sheila, January 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am:
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That sounds like an amazing program! I know lots of people that would like a little plot of land to get their hands dirty. Truly a fore thinking group of people came up with this. Although I have lived most my life in California, I was born in Flint.
Susy, January 25th, 2009 at 2:06 pm:
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I don’t think we do, but I wish they would. I’d be gardening in a few of them.
MrBrownThumb, January 27th, 2009 at 2:13 pm:
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Colleen this is such a cool program. I don’t think we have something like this in Illinois but I wouldn’t mind if they copied your state’s program.
btw have you been to the group blog for Chicago Spring Fling? I hope you think about attending and come, I’d love to meet you. Click on my name in the comment I’ve added the link to the group blog instead of my own for this comment.
Nickie, January 27th, 2009 at 9:07 pm:
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Wow! Now that is using y’alls noodles up there. There was so much blight here even before the crisis, so it seems just like another day around here….driving through Gary is depressing, so many half burnt, borded up and falling down houses….