The Eastpointe Community Garden was started in the summer of 2012 by a group of community minded residents, business owners and local politicians. Our mission
• To do something positive for the City of Eastpointe
• Offer a project to bring the community together
• Beautify the city
• Teach people (especially kids) about gardening and community service
• Provide vegetables for local food banks and the community
We are run by volunteers and depend on rentals and donations to cover the costs of the garden (water, soil, lumber, plants, etc,) Rentals are $40.00 for a bed. We accept donations and have sponsorship opportunities.
50% of the garden is dedicated to the Giving Garden: plants are donated, planted, harvested and delivered to local food banks by the committee and our volunteers. The garden is maintained through Saturday work parties of volunteers and visits to w**d and water - volunteers can help out on any schedule that they are available. Decisions for the garden are made by the Garden Committee. We use raised garden beds, vertical gardening and natural gardening practices with no herbicides or pesticides allowed. When there are issues, we use organic fertilizers and natural pest control. The garden features pollinator friendly planting areas, little free libraries, tables, chairs and picnic tables for a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Urban Gardening!? What's that all about...
Urban Gardening can be broken down into four (4) groups:
1. Container garden - Growing plants in pots or other containers, rather than in ground
2. Urban horticulture - Growing crops or ornamental plants in urban or semi-urban setting
3. Urban agriculture - Food production in urban setting
4. Windowbox - A box that is usually placed outdoors and used for growing herbs or other edible plants
Container gardening:
This is the practice of growing plants exclusively in containers instead of planting them in the ground. Pots, traditionally made of terracotta but now more commonly plastic, and windowboxes have been the most commonly seen. Small pots are commonly called flowerpots. In some cases, this method of growing is used for ornamental purposes. This method is also useful in areas where the soil or climate is unsuitable for the plant or crop in question. Using a container is also generally necessary for houseplants. Limited growing space, or growing space that is paved over, can also make this option appealing to the gardener. Urban and peri-urban horticulture (UPH):
This includes all horticultural crops grown for human consumption and ornamental use within and in the immediate surroundings of cities. The products of UPH include a large variety of vegetables, cereals, flowers, ornamental trees, aromatic vegetables and mushrooms. Generally, the types of crops cultivated vary according to the area, influenced by culture and tradition. Urban agriculture:
This is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in, or around, a village, town or city. Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety in two ways: first, it increases the amount of food available to people living in cities, and, second, it allows fresh vegetables and fruits and meat products to be made available to urban consumers. Windowbox (window planter, window flower box, or window box planter):
This is a planter box that is usually placed outdoors and used for displaying live plants and flowers, but it may also be used for growing herbs or other edible plants. It is usually placed or affixed to an accessible location so the resident of a home may easily work with the plants in the container. A flower box may be installed under a window and supported in place by brackets on the wall below, in which case it may be called a window box.
