Field Note # 2: Working and Photographing at the D-Town Farm

June 3, 2009 Field Note#2
Being a community partner with a school or agency is not just about sitting down and having a discussion. As a community-worker-educator, I have found that there is a lot to learn from shared leadership environments. On Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at the D-Town Farm, I worked with The Nsoroma Institute's staff, students, parents, and, volunteers from the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. During the tour, I photographed the farm and volunteers. Later, I helped out by raking a quadrant. The D-Town Farm is a self determination project of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. I learned that on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. the community comes together to tend to the farm, how large the farm is, that they have bee hives, a hoop house where lettuce and other greens grow and a trail of garlic that survived through the winter months. When I stopped by, the soil had been tilled and the community worked to clear leftover debris from the quadrants before planting. Students were busy making wood chip trails for people to walk on. I helped to cross-rake a quadrant to remove debris where squash is being planted. The photos are a front to back view of the farm, folks planting, Malik Yakin in the hoop house, bee hive stands, me raking a quadrant, and various types of lettuce. More photographs to come!

Best-

Aurora Harris

Note: all photos are c.2009 by Aurora Harris. Please contact Aurora Harris at aurora917@gmail.com to request permission to use, copy or duplicate.