In 2007, Detroit was labeled a food desert. A food desert is an area that has no or very distant mainstream grocers. In most cities, food deserts are isolated districts or neighborhoods. Detroit is America’s 11th largest city. There is not a single grocery store chain within the city limits.
plant grow eat love addresses this issue of Detroit’s limited accessibility to grocery stores and fresh foods. After conducting ethnographic research in downtown Detroit, we discovered many locals were open to the idea of gardening but lacked the resources.
Our solution was to teach people to grow their own fresh produce indoors using recycled 2-liter bottles. The project consisted of an installation and workshop, where we distributed window gardens and taught locals how to make their own. We distributed packets with recipes, local garden info and plant care tips.
