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Urban Farming at the Michigan State Fair

We did our yearly caravan to the Michigan State Fair over the weekend. Myself, my husband, the four kids, my mother-in-law, and my brother-in-law go every year together, and Sunday could not have been a more perfect day. It was in the mid 60’s, partly sunny, and just generally beautiful outside.

While my favorite things have traditionally been the livestock and the agricultural exhibits, this year I was enthralled by the Great Lakes Gardens, an example of urban farming installed right on the Michigan State Fairgrounds. It was the creation of Ryan Rowinski, who is a graduate of the Michigan State soil science program, and donated his time, experience, and obvious green thumb to the Fair this year.

I had read about the garden in the Detroit News, so I was interested in seeing it, but I have to admit that the husband and I weren’t hoping for much. We already HAVE an urban garden, how different could this one be?

Well.

Great Lakes Gardens Urban Farm

I could have spent the entire day in the Great Lakes Gardens. The plants looked fabulous, I loved the way Rowinski laid the garden out, mixing large borders of corn with small, narrow beds for squashes, and a circular bed for pole beans. What I loved about the garden was that it was obviously bountiful, it was beautiful, and it wasn’t pretending to be anything else. This was a working urban farm, and it didn’t need any “prettying up” or ornamentation. In fact, as of last week, the plot, which was installed eight weeks ago, has yielded over 300 pounds of produce, with another three to four hundred pounds expected in the next couple weeks.

A quick survey of the farm showed that it was growing just about everything: corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, eggplant, wheat, lettuces, brussels sprouts, sunflowers, and herbs all had a home there. I did notice that none of the corn had been demolished by squirrels, though Rowinski told the “Grosse Pointe News” that bunnies have been a bit of a problem.

Ideas I’m Going to Copy

There are three things Rowinski did that I’m totally ripping off next year. The first was this awesome cucumber tunnel trellis:

Emily and Sarah under the cucumber arch.

The second is the way Rowinski supported some of his pole beans. He calls this type of staking “Detroit-style” (you would find rebar in many of the vacant lots in the city — may as well use it!)

Love these bean supports.

The third thing I’m going to copy is Rowinski’s use of narrow beds. This is something that would definitely benefit those of us with small, irregular, or partly shady lots who are always saying “just one more bed!” I have a few areas I am already planning to use narrow beds in. I don’t have a photo of it, but there were several long, twelve to eighteen inch wide, beds along the edges of the garden. A simple idea, but a very useful one.

I was totally inspired by this urban farm, and more determined to increase our growing space next year. As a side note, due to funding issues, this was the last year for the Michigan State Fair. At 161 years old, our Fair was the oldest in the United States. We signed petitions at the Fair to save it, and I really hoped something would be worked out. But, Michigan Public Radio reported this morning that the last minute reprieve so many of us had hoped for hasn’t happened. It’s over. I hate to think that my youngest kids will never have the experience of feeding goats and alpacas, seeing giant pumpkins, or watching the pig races at the State Fair. This is a huge loss to so many families, and to our entire state.

7 comments

7 comments to “Urban Farming at the Michigan State Fair”

Sande, September 4th, 2009 at 7:01 am:

I’ve never made it to the State Fair, but do enjoy the Monroe County Fair every year with your kids. It’s smaller but very well respected. Try us next year! We’re just a county south of you – the first week of August.
Your comments and photos on the urban farm were very interesting. I like the narrow bed idea very much and the cucumber arch is cool, too.

Tara, September 4th, 2009 at 1:13 pm:

Wow, so sad about the Michigan State Fair! I’m in Texas and make it up to Dallas occasionally for our state fair in October (peripheral perk while attending the TX/OU football game).

Thanks for posting the photos and description. It’s a good reminder that even a functional garden can be beautiful too.

Chookie, September 4th, 2009 at 4:47 pm:

How sad to be losing your State Fair! Our equivalent is run by the Royal Agricultural Society so it includes all the state agricultural awards, plus various craft awards. Various animal clubs have their awards in it too. I hope you aren’t losing your agricultural award system along with your fair!

Colleen Vanderlinden, September 5th, 2009 at 9:40 am:

Hi Chookie!

There were agricultural awards in the State Fair, too. I have yet to be to a county fair, but I’m guessing they have some kind of awards system as well. Another annoying thing about the State Fair folding is that the fairgrounds are now going to be developed (they want to put a shopping mall there ) and the equestrian club that has been using the stables and land had to relocate as well. It’s just so short sighted, in my humble opinion.

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen Vanderlinden, September 5th, 2009 at 9:41 am:

Hi Tara!

October seems like a very nice time for a state fair. Sometimes in late August it is just miserable here — this is the first year we were actually comfortable walking around!

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen Vanderlinden, September 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am:

Hi Sande!

We will most definitely be checking out the Monroe County Fair next year! Thanks for the info.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ryan Rowinski, November 10th, 2009 at 3:28 am:

Thank you to everyone who enjoyed my Urban Demonstration Garden. I was so pleased that many could experience these conservation and growing techniques first hand. I documented a detailed tour of the garden. I have posted the links below. I hope that somehow the state fair will be around for a long time to come. Building this garden and seeing how important this fair is too so many really touched my sense of community, and made me believe that my resolve to help bring a healthy economical model as an alternative to the blighted and vacant land in our cities, was the correct thing to do. Take care to all and happy growing.

Great Lakes Gardens Organic Urban Farming Demo by Ryan Rowinski , Michigan State Fair 2009

lots of great ideas to try at home!

part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH3TVOS7QT4

part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtix0E_jGcw

part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIS19BFKDo8

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From the Archives

Urban Farming at the Michigan State Fair

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7 comments to “Urban Farming at the Michigan State Fair”

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