HAVEN gardeners reap bounty for themselves and their community

A group of gardeners at an Oakland County domestic violence shelter are reaping a bountiful harvest and changing lives, one meal at a time.

The HAVEN Garden Project is a cooperative effort of the Michigan Young Farmers Coalition and HAVEN. Located in Pontiac at HAVEN’s shelter for domestic and sexual violence victims, the project provides healthy food for the shelter residents, while educating them about nutrition. Additionally, the garden is to feed other HAVEN clients and staff and - as a long range goal - the community.

Although the project only began in April, the garden has already yielded an amazing 425 pounds of produce. More than 100 pounds has been donated to Gleaners Food Bank in Pontiac.

Leaders from Michigan Young Farmers helped design the garden and its many parts, including Maya’s Garden, which features rotating vegetable plantings; the Edible Forest Garden; and a cut flower bed that is sponsored and donated by the Michigan Young Farmer Coalition.

Members of the Michigan Young Farmers are training HAVEN staff and volunteers to plant and harvest and teaching them about crop rotation and soil fertility. The MFC has also instituted a Summer Youth Program to work specifically with HAVEN youth residents.

Along with adding healthy fruits and vegetables to their diets, all the gardeners (and the funders supporting them) are feeding each other and the community, figuratively and literally. Harvests to date include butter crunch and romaine lettuces; spicy baby mesclun mix; baby spinach; a variety of greens – collards, chard and kale; radishes; turnips; beets; and kohlrabi. Each Sunday, shelter residents enjoy a Sunday Collard Greens Feast.

Funding for this project has been made possible by the generosity of many in our community. To inquire about volunteer opportunities contact Belle Hornung at bhornung@haven-oakland.org or 248-334-1284 ext. 659.

About HAVEN

HAVEN is a nationally recognized non-profit that has been giving hope a voice by working towards eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault for thirty five years. The non-profit offers treatment and prevention services as well as educational programs across Oakland County and the surrounding communities. For more information about programs and services visit www.haven-oakland.org, or phone (248) 334-1284. For more information about HAVEN, please contact Melissa Bunker at marketwrite@comcast.net and (313) 886-9074.