Detroit’s urban garden scene continues to grow in impact, bringing neighbors together and supporting the underprivileged with access to healthy produce. General Motors contributed a small part in fueling this movement through the donation of its steel shipping crates repurposed as raised garden beds. Five years later, 2,000 of the automaker’s crates are home to plantings in 33 different gardens.
The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative is working to debut America’s first sustainable urban agrihood – a neighborhood growth model with agriculture at the center of a mixed-use development.
General Motors’ sustainability approach enables the company to serve its customers and shareholders, increase operational efficiency, mitigate risk and improve the communities where it does business. GM summarizes its impact in its annual sustainability report at gmsustainability.com.
High performance building materials drive efficiency, optimize energy, sustainability
Press Release
DETROIT, May 24, 2017 /3BL Media/ – A network of local and global businesses are collaborating with the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) to transform a long-vacant apartment complex in Detroit’s lower North End into a multi-functional community space that will become one of the most sustainable, energy-efficient buildings in Detroit.
Companies including BASF, General Motors, PPG, and others are working together to reimagine how their materials, systems, and techniques can help transform structures into showpieces of innovation and energy efficiency.
The Michigan Urban Farming Initative debuted America’s first sustainable urban agrihood in Detroit’s lower North End.
Located on about three acres in a Detroit neighborhood, the agrihood features a two-acre urban garden, a 200-tree fruit orchard, a children’s sensory garden and more. The gardens produce fresh and free produce to about 2,000 households in the area.
Urban agriculture is growing fast across the U.S. A new collaboration is adding an exciting element of recycling to the concept. It’s happening in Detroit, where General Motors’ local Hamtramck Assembly plant is working with the city’s nonprofit Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) to help build an occupied shipping container homestead.
The 40-feet long, eight-feet wide and 10-feet tall container home will be constructed of 85 percent scrap materials donated by General Motors. Employees will donate their time and skills to help build it.
