Motor City Going Green, Greener, Greenest: Eco Living Articles: Eco20/20

Motor City Going Green, Greener, Greenest

By Jillian Fellows
Eco20/20

New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago may be the innovative capitals of the United States, but Detroit is making strides in its own right.

Once a major manufacturing hub, Detroit has struggled over the last half-century to keep its head above water. The population of the city has lost a quarter of its residents since 2000 and crime is rampant, making Detroit one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. Despite these issues and contrary to popular opinion, there are bright spots in Detroit. Bright green spots.

Detroit has the potential to become one of the greenest cities in America. Thanks to several businesses and organizations that devote their efforts to the greening of Detroit and the education of its citizens, the city is well on its way to achieving that title.

Recycle Here! is a city-wide neighborhood recycling program started in 2005. In 2007, it became the official recycling program for the city of Detroit. Recycle Here! has seven drop off sites around the city and currently averages 1,000 households per week.

"Recycle Here! focuses on providing an opportunity for Detroiters to recycle their waste, while promoting a message of personal responsibility and waste reduction," said director of operations and founder Matthew Naimi. "Our approach is to make recycling a community gathering point, to make it fun and a part of what you do in Detroit. Recycle Here! makes it cool to be green."

The Eastern Market is one of Detroit's oldest and most popular neighborhoods. First opened in 1891, the Eastern Market is the largest historic public market district in the United States at 43 acres and with more than 250 independent vendors. The farmers market is not only one of the most iconic and vibrant parts of the Detroit, it is also one of the greenest.

The Eastern Market advocates eating locally grown produce, as well as buying that produce straight from the grower. This practice cuts down on shipping, which reduces fuel emissions. The market also uses green geo-thermal technology in their buildings.

"Eastern Market is a hub for a robust local food system," said president of the Eastern Market Corporation Dan Carmody. "We believe we can help Detroit by making healthy food more available. We've greatly increased the amount of specialty products we use, which are mostly local. We take the opportunity to add value to food and create jobs."

One of the fastest growing movements in Detroit is urban gardening. Detroit has no lack of vacant lots, which are eyesores for neighborhoods and often become dumping grounds. Urban gardens and farms use the city's empty lots to create life and growth, improving property values and literally bringing green back to Detroit's neighborhoods.

The Garden Resource Program Collaborative is a group of organizations working together to promote urban gardening and farming initiatives in Detroit. The Collaborative provides support to more than 875 urban gardens and farms and encourages urban agriculture in Detroit.

According to their website the Collaborative said, "Urban gardens and farms play an important role in the city of Detroit. They provide thousands of pounds of fresh, nutritious produce for Detroit families and improve our communities by connecting neighbors, providing an attractive alternative to trash-strewn vacant lots, improving property values, and reducing crime."

Two things all of these organizations have in common is a love for the environment and a desire to educate.

Recycle Here! works with the Detroit Public School system to educate children about recycling and green living.

"We have created a non-profit educational program called Green Living Science, which works with the Detroit Public Schools to teach students what "green" means," said Naimi. "This program has worked with over 30,000 students in the last three years, creating a green foundation for future citizens of Detroit."

The Eastern Market has made educating Detroit citizens about healthy food and how to buy green a top priority.

According to their website the Eastern Market Corporation said, "We already process, distribute, and sell food at Eastern Market. We need to improve and expand how we do those things while we complete a real food system by educating people about how to eat, assisting in the expansion of food production from within the city and the region, and by capturing the nutrients of what we refer to as waste to restore the productivity of our soil."

The Garden Resource Program Collaborative uses its connections to teach children and community members about gardening and an appreciation for the environment. The Collaborative offers over 50 workshops every year ranging from how to plant and care for a garden to developing the art of beekeeping.

According to their website the Collaborative said, "Gardeners never stop learning. Each year is an opportunity to try a new variety, a new technique, and for many, to try gardening for the very first time."

The future of Detroit looks green, but there's a long and arduous road ahead before it can become the Emerald City.

"The city of Detroit must reinvent itself to survive. This city has fresh water and the weather and soil that can support diverse agriculture products," said Naimi. "The loss of population has created vast areas of vacant land that can support both agriculture and alternative energy production. Detroit has the chance to be the first city on the planet to be able to feed itself. It is an exciting time to be awake in Detroit."