Beloved community, 

While the work on the farm and the work of building food sovereignty do not stop, we recognize that there are many heavy hearts in our community. Growing Hope aims to be a supportive, nonviolent, and inclusive space for all who participate. To this end, we began this year by developing a Safe Space Agreement for anyone interacting with us or our space. 

Everyone who comes to the Growing Hope Urban Farm, Ypsilanti Farmers Markets, and/or Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace is expected to engage other humans, species, and the land with respect. We will interrupt oppressive behavior, defined as any conduct that demeans, marginalizes, rejects, threatens, or harms anyone based on ability, age, cultural background, education, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, language, nationality, physical appearance, race, religion, or sexual orientation as well as any conduct that damages the dwelling spaces or the Earth.

You should expect nothing less when interacting with our team, spaces, or others within it. 

Fostering safe spaces where folks can interact, learn and simply be is crucial to building food sovereignty in our community. The trust and vulnerability required of this become the foundation for food sovereignty as we rebuild a historically uncaring and unjust food system. And like so much that we do, this is rooted in the lessons we learn from Mother Earth. 

There are no limits on the caring capacity of Earth.

Mother Earth keeps caring and providing for every living creature through any and all adversity. Just in the past month, in our neighborhood, Mother Earth has been impacted by hail the size of golf balls, sixty-mile-an-hour wind, drought, and extremely unhealthy air quality. Even so, she continues to provide nutrients and shelter to plants and creatures alike.

We need everyone involved to create safe, vibrant, sovereign spaces in our community; we need you. 

Peace,

Julius

PS Get started by visiting the Ypsilanti Farmers Market every Saturday from 9a-1p at 100 Rice St.