WJP Urban Farms works in collaboration with the city of Detroit to revitalize its neighborhoods. All WJP Urban Farms are acquired through Detroit’s Land Bank Authority as vacant lots. The mission of the Detroit Land Bank Authority is to return the city’s blighted and vacant properties to productive use.
Following acquisition, all lots undergo rigorous preparation to ensure healthy soil composition free of contaminants. Since most of our lots were once residential spaces, many contain debris from the demolition process. To guarantee our gardens are free of demolition debris, a rock picker is used on all purchased lots.
After debris removal, all soil is tested for potential contaminants including lead and other heavy metals. Soil composition is also tested and treated organically to establish the foundation for a productive harvest.
WJP Urban Farms is dedicated to strictly organic farming to ensure our produce provides the most nutritional value possible to the children and families we serve. We ensure all materials used for cultivation align with the organic definitions outlined by the U.S Department of Agriculture.