Kent Conservation District (CD) in Grand Rapids, MI, undertook a collaborative effort involving Plainsong Farm near Rockford, MI, North Kent Connect in Rockford, Community Food Club in Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Community College Student Food Pantry, the West Michigan Growers Group, and the Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW). The project had three main goals: to provide conservation technical assistance, culturally desired produce to families, and education about conservation practices at Plainsong Farm.

Conservation technical assistance was provided to regional urban and rural producers through a collaboration with the Plainsong Farm, a faith-based non-profit living laboratory for farm-based environmental education, and the West Michigan Growers Group, which consists of 30 small growers, one quarter of which are urban growers, whom all serve urban populations through community-supported agriculture or farmers markets, with many taking part in programs serving individuals and families facing food insecurity. Kent CD’s Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program technician presented an overview of the program at a meeting in 2022 and, in July 2023, offered free soil sampling to WMGG owners/operators to encourage them to participate in the program by implementing conservation practices on their land.

The second goal was to provide culturally desired fresh produce to urban and rural low-income families through established partnerships. A 2018-2019 Kent County Community Food Survey revealed that 30% of the county population experienced food insecurity and identified a financial disparity in a person’s ability to obtain fresh produce. To address these issues, Plainsong Farm, using regenerative practices, distributed a total of 30,588 fresh, culturally desired produce servings through their Nourish Your Neighbor Program, partnering with three organizations: North Kent Connect, Grand Rapids Community College, and Grand Rapids Community Food Club. On average, 7,535 individuals benefited each quarter. The impact was broadly distributed. North Kent Connect serves citizens from numerous small communities and surrounding rural areas. Grand Rapids Community College serves a diverse student population of which, based on surveys, 30% face food insecurity. The Community Food Club serves an urban population comprised of people who identify as 45% Hispanic/Latino, 26% African American, 24% white, and 4% other.

The final goal was to provide education about conservation practices at Plainsong Farm to volunteers and partner agency clients to foster implementing sustainability practices and growing their own fresh produce. To that end, Plainsong Farm, throughout the growing seasons, hosted twice-weekly educational volunteer events engaging an average of 96 individuals each quarter. Ten additional events led by the Plainsong Farm manager, Mike Edwardson, in partnership with LGROW and Kent CD staff, demonstrated home gardening techniques and knowledge. They also hosted two Earth Day events, resulting in 635 native trees and shrubs being planted on the farm and the installation of a 0.6-acre pollinator habitat field. Three Environmental Educational Days were held at the Community Food Club, in which over 1,000 vegetable seedlings and over 1,000 vegetable seed packets, all culturally preferred, were distributed to clients who, based on a survey, overwhelmingly (66%) were interested in growing their own produce. LGROW presented information about practices that urban individuals can implement at home and in their neighborhoods, such as adopting a stormwater drain, planting pollinator gardens, car washing best management practices, and installing curb cut-out rain gardens. Kent CD demonstrated raised-bed gardening techniques and discussed soil testing for lead, offering free services to many of the Community Food Club members who live in older homes that likely contain lead-based exterior paint, increasing the likelihood of soil contamination. Mike Edwardson, the Plainsong Farm Manager, provided gardening knowledge, and six Spanish-language interpreters were on hand to convey information and answer questions in an individual’s native language, given that a large portion of Community Food Club members are first- or second-generation Hispanic immigrants.  The active engagement by Community Food Club members and their deep gratitude expressed their deep gratitude through active engagement and big smiles. The event created a strong sense of community.