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Sweet Greetings Community, As we enter into Black History Month, I invite you to lean in as we reflect on the stories of makers—artists, bakers, herbalists, and creators—we honor the ingenuity that blooms from soil and spirit alike. Sean, Bupé, Nashia, and Eric are carrying forward a legacy of resilience and resistance through their craft. They remind us that making is more than production; it is storytelling, ancestral memory, and an act of defiance in a world that seeks to homogenize and commodify. Investing in our local food system means investing in the people who shape it. From the farmers who steward the land to the artisans who transform raw ingredients into nourishment, we are weaving a web of interdependence that can withstand the storms of uncertainty. At this moment, when federal funding hangs in precarious balance, and communities are left to navigate the shifting tides of policy and politics, we must deepen our commitments to one another on our journey to realize self-determination. We see the cracks in the system, and we also see the light that pours through. The growing movement for reparations and land return is gaining momentum. Across the country, Black food businesses and land stewards are reclaiming space and sovereignty—from cooperatively owned grocery stores to community-run urban farms. Here in Washtenaw County, Black entrepreneurs are creating thriving food businesses despite systemic barriers. The Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen provides a space where small businesses (many of whom are Black-owned) can thrive and where each owner can freely pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Meanwhile, the Reparations Council is laying the groundwork for justice, ensuring Black food businesses and land stewards have the resources to thrive. We work diligently to meet our community's growing need for this support. These are not isolated efforts; they are part of a collective reckoning, a return-to-right relationship with land, food, and people. I invite you to lean in, whether it is through listening, learning, advocating, donating, or any other means. Because it is about food. It is about land. It is about representation, justice, and sovereignty. It is about us—standing in the fullness of our power and ensuring that everyone has the right to grow, create, and be nourished. In solidarity and abundance, Julius Buzzard P.S. Sign up today to join the conversation with each of these makers.

Dear Growing Hope Family, The turning of the year invites us to pause, reflect, and envision what lies ahead. As we step into 2025, we celebrate the seeds of change we nurtured together in 2024. Each garden tended, meal shared, and bond forged has been an act of resistance and renewal, drawing us closer to a future of food sovereignty for Ypsilanti. Last year, we witnessed profound moments of transformation: community gardens blossoming into sanctuaries of nourishment, teens learning the ancient wisdom of cultivation and care, and neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder to reclaim agency over their food systems. Each step, no matter how small, was a declaration that food is a human right, not a privilege. This year, we grow deeper, stronger, and bolder. We root ourselves firmly in equity, acknowledging the injustices that have shaped our food landscape and committing to uprooting them together. We strengthen the networks of care that cradle our community, ensuring no one is left behind. And we cultivate abundance—not just in the produce that sustains our bodies but in the joy, dignity, and solidarity that sustain our spirits. Here’s our vision for 2025: Planting seeds of justice: Expanding initiatives that center the voices and leadership of those most impacted by food inequity. Cultivating sustainable connections: Deepening partnerships with local organizations and neighbors to create a web of support that nourishes all. Harvesting the power of community: Celebrating our shared successes and embracing the collective wisdom that drives us forward. This work is not easy, but it is sacred. Together, we will grow boldly, rest deeply, and dream expansively. Let us nurture the hope that lives within each of us and transform it into action that ripples across our city. To a year of abundance, justice, and unwavering solidarity, With love and gratitude,  Julius Buzzard P.S. Keep an eye out for specifics and updates on how your solidarity is making a tangible difference in Ypsilanti.

Beloved Community,  We’re thrilled to honor Francesca Williamson as our Volunteer of the Year! Francesca’s passion and tireless work have inspired our team and community. Her leadership in the compost program and commitment to sustainable practices have been invaluable. Francesca has given countless hours, never hesitating to dive in with a smile and lend a hand wherever needed. Her dedication reminds us of the power of individual contributions in making our vision for a resilient food system a reality. Here’s a note straight from Franchesca: “It has been a joy to volunteer with Growing Hope this year. My family is from African American communities that migrated north from the rural south, so food and caring for the land are core parts of my culture and upbringing. As a child, I remember pulling weeds in my grandmother’s tomato rows and watching her preserve vegetables. My family regularly cooked and shared food with others — for church events, during community service programs, and when visiting elders and the ‘sick and shut-in’ (a catch-all term for people experiencing illness and living with disabilities). So, when I learned about Growing Hope, I was immediately drawn to the food justice mission and values. I started volunteering with the compositing team and learned a lot about bees, food waste-to-compost cycles, and local food system issues. As a newcomer to the area, joining the compost team has also been a way to connect with people, the community, and the land. Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the impactful work Growing Hope is doing. I look forward to staying involved because Growing Hope feels like home.” Our deep connection to the intersecting communities we serve and collaborate with drives everything we do. Through programs like youth leadership, food access initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations, we co-create pathways to address the interconnected challenges of food insecurity, educational inequities, climate change, and land access. This work is not about replicating old models but reimagining what’s possible—embracing innovation rooted in optimism and our shared humanity. As we reflect on the past year and look toward the future, we remain steadfast in pursuing systemic change, working toward a regenerative, inclusive food system for Ypsilanti and beyond. Thank you for being part of the collaborative spirit and care that define Growing Hope! In Gratitude, Julius Buzzard

Dear Friends, As we gather this week to share meals and stories with loved ones, let us take a moment to reflect not only on the food before us but also on the systems, labor, and land that make it possible. Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, but it also...

Partners in Progress, The reds, oranges, and yellows of fall’s great show are magic. Our eyes and hearts are overwhelmed by the natural golden beauty of life inside a miracle as we balance the sorrow behind the constant impacts of the climate collapse that stretches...

Beloved community, For so many reasons, autumn is my favorite season, and I hope you’ve enjoyed its first glimpse. The slow unfolding of this crimson season, paired with the crisp breeze and leaves crunching beneath our feet, reminds us of and invites us into Earth’s...

Greetings!  I’m thrilled to invite you to share a meal with us during Chefs in the Garden on September 15 and/or September 22 . Each bite will delight your palate and underscore the profound connection between sustainable agriculture and healthy, vibrant communities. Local empowerment, self-determination, and sustainability are deeply embedded in our mission of creating a more just and equitable food system. These values are held within everything we do. With this in mind, we have been moving toward community-centric fundraising, which centers on the community’s needs and values. We often involve the community in the decision-making process and ensure that the funds are used to benefit the community directly. Chefs in the Garden is where community-centric fundraising and food sovereignty intersect. The event features local chefs preparing meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, celebrating the connection between food and community. This year, we are collaborating with Detroit Food Academy for a joint fundraiser on September 15 and piloting a family-style meal with Chef Ji Hye Kim on September 22. While the food will be as divine as always, these changes help us amplify the voices of food justice throughout our community while celebrating the diverse but critical perspectives that make our community so unique. Please join us in celebrating the power of good food and good company for a great cause. In solidarity, Julius P.S. If you cannot make it, consider purchasing scholarship tickets for community members who might otherwise be unable to attend.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ayanfe Jamison Garden Manager [email protected] 7 3 4-786-8401 Growing Hope Awards Inaugural Sprout Grants to Empower Community Gardens in Ypsilanti Ypsilanti, MI, August 22, 2024–Growing Hope is proud to announce the recipients of its inaugural Sprout Grants, which aim to foster community self-reliance, self-determination, and food sovereignty through the support of local community gardens. These grants represent a crucial step toward building a resilient and sustainable food system in Ypsilanti by empowering residents to take control of their own food sources and strengthen their neighborhoods. The 2024 Sprout Grant recipients include: Frog Island Community Garden: Installing a path to assist with ADA accessibility. Parkridge Community Garden: Purchasing a tiller to allow them to do their best work in the spaces they steward as they grow food for the community. M.E.S.S. House Community Garden: This funding will support the garden’s purchase of tools, construction of raised beds, and installation of fruit trees as it works to build a community farm. Chidester Place Community Garden: Will build fencing to keep out deer and other wildlife. Alley Garden: Repurposing recycling bins into raised garden beds along a path throughout Ypsi. Cross Street Village Gardeners: Starting a small herbal garden with a fence and tools. Normal Park Community Garden: Clean the grass and weeds out of the paths and put gravel or a thick bed of wood chips in the paths to keep the grass and weeds from the paths. These community gardens have been selected for their commitment to nurturing local food production, enhancing access to fresh produce, and creating spaces where residents can connect, learn, and grow together. Each garden will receive financial support and resources tailored to its unique needs, allowing it to expand its impact and continue its vital work in fostering food security and community resilience. “We are thrilled to support these gardens, each of which plays a critical role in advancing food sovereignty and empowering our community to become more self-reliant,” said Julius Buzzard, Executive Director. “These grants are not just about growing food; they’re about growing community, empowering individuals to shape their own food systems, and ensuring that everyone in Ypsilanti has the opportunity to thrive.” The Sprout Grants are part of Growing Hope’s broader mission to promote community-driven solutions to food insecurity and support initiatives encouraging healthy, sustainable, and just food systems. By investing in these community gardens, Growing Hope is helping to build a future where every Ypsilanti resident has access to fresh, nutritious food and the knowledge to grow it themselves. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Growing Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on strengthening and supporting the local food system throughout the community and beyond. We own and operate a demonstration urban farm, fund, and staff the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets, and facilitate home and community gardening programming, preparing fresh, affordable local produce and food entrepreneurship for youth and adults.

Dear Growing Hope Community, August 8th marked the last day of our eight-week Summer Teen Leadership Program! Over the past eight weeks, 12 Ypsilanti teens joined us as part of our farm staff for an intensive summer program of farm work and workshops on food justice, community organizing, social identity, and cooking lessons. The teens worked hard this summer caring for their Oasis Garden and the Sharing Garden, harvesting food for our CSA program and free produce cooler, and partnering with local organizations to deepen their knowledge about the Washtenaw County food system. Last summer, the teens established The Oasis Garden, a section of the farm where they are responsible for crop planning, planting seeds, and tending from start to finish! The Oasis is identified by its colorful garden beds and welcoming energy- it is a part of the farm built for the community to visit and enjoy. This summer, the teen program took over the stewardship of the Growing Hope Sharing Garden! The Sharing Garden is the first part of the farm you see when visiting Growing Hope and it is open to the public to harvest their own food to take home. The teens worked hard to make the Sharing Garden another welcoming and inviting space by adding signs and colorful murals on the garden beds and planting abundant, easy-to-harvest crops! The Teen Leadership Program is an integral part of Growing Hope, and we are so proud of and grateful for this incredible group of young people! This Summer, three of our teens, Marceline Jones, Cecelia Johnson, and Jackson Prevedel, graduated High School and will be moving on from the Teen Leadership Program. We are so proud of their work at Growing Hope and wish them all the best in their future endeavors! Marceline wanted to share a few words about their time in the Growing Hope Teen Leadership Program below! Hello everyone! My name is Marceline, and I have been in the Teen Leadership Program for two years. This fall, I plan to attend Michigan State University and major in Criminal Justice. I hope to specialize in missing person cases with the goal of giving closure to many families and friends who need answers. I know how scary it can be to have someone you love abruptly disappear. This is close to me as an Indigenous black queer person because there is a high percentage of people in minority communities who go missing every day and many cases that go unrecognized. While I am not going into agriculture, I plan to continue my passion for gardening at MSU and fight for food justice. When I first started at Growing Hope, I was in a dark place. I was recently placed in foster care at 15 years old. I had issues with my health, and I didn’t have many friends at the time. While working on the farm, gardening and cooking became good coping strategies for my mental health. I was surprised that I could take a single seed and make it grow into something so beautiful, like a flower or a corn stalk, by having patience and love for the plant to grow tall. In the afterschool program, I would usually come to the farm 2-3 hours early before work. I enjoyed walking around the farm, admiring the plants, and studying for school. This place became a home for me. Before I knew it, I realized that my coworkers and staff at Growing Hope had been giving me the same patience and love to grow as we would do for our seedlings. All for me to Blossom into the beautiful person I am today. If I had never joined Growing Hope, I don’t know where I would be. In the end, Growing Hope saved my life. All I needed was a push to be the leader I was meant to be and to smile for the next kid who doesn’t know where they fit in. When Growing Hope hires each year for the Teen Leadership Program, we never truly know who the new teens are or where they come from, until we all come together to work and have discussions. As always, we just have to love them, have patience, and listen to them no matter what. I will forever be grateful to Growing Hope for believing in me, when many others didn’t. Together, we can make a change for our community and youth!  -Marceline Jones