Beekeeping has been going on in the United States since the 1800s and in Detroit since the 1930s. In the last two decades, the Motor City has seen a resurgence in beekeeping initiatives, hand-in-hand with the growth of urban agriculture within its borders. Detroit Hives is one such endeavor, founded in 2017 and run by two beekeepers, Nicole Lindsey and Timothy Paule.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs available right in your yard? If you embrace edible landscaping, you can enjoy this experience practically year-round and save money to boot. Veteran Edible Farmer Rosalind Creasy shares that while these types of gardens do require an initial investment of time and money, they offer significant savings on produce costs—for example, in 2008, the value of the vegetables she grew in a 100-square-foot garden totaled more than $675.
It’s not easy to combine one’s gifts and passion for agriculture with a need for housing and a salary in an urban environment. Farmer-in-Residence Zaro Bates has been lucky enough to do just that in the courtyard of a Staten Island apartment complex, known as Urby. Bates runs this 4,500-square foot organic city farm and the business Empress Green Inc. with her husband and co-worker/beekeeper, Asher Landes.