Pilot Episode: Urban Farming

male narrator: MODERN FOOD PRODUCTION

PROMISED TO FEED THE WORLD ON THE CHEAP.

BUT ARE THE COSTS PROVING TO BE MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR?

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE TRUCKED AROUND THE COUNTRY

AND AROUND THE WORLD,

AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHO GREW THEM

OR HOW THEY GOT HERE.

ISN'T THERE A BETTER WAY?

FROM THE ROOFTOPS OF NEW YORK CITY

TO THE VACANT LOTS OF DETROIT,

THERE'S A GROWING MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE EAT.

JOIN US AS FOOD FORWARD EXPLORES THE EXPLOSION

OF URBAN AGRICULTURE ACROSS AMERICA,

AND MEET THE FOOD REBELS WHO ARE GROWING FOOD

RIGHT WHERE WE LIVE.

[lively rock music]

♫♫

- HERE WE ARE IN NEW YORK CITY,

FIVE BOROUGHS, 8 MILLION PEOPLE,

THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA IN THE WORLD.

THERE ARE 28,000 RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK CITY.

IF NEW YORK CITY WERE TO DECIDE TOMORROW

TO STOP IMPORTING FOOD,

WE'D HAVE A BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

MOST OF US LIVE IN CITIES NOW, OVER 50%,

AND MAYBE 80% IN 20 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE LOVE EACH OTHER.

WE LIKE TO BE WITH EACH OTHER.

WE LIKE TO SIT DOWN TO A GOOD MEAL TOGETHER,

AND WE ALL WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR FOOD.

SO WHY NOT GROW IT WHERE WE LIVE?

- MY NAME IS JOHN MOONEY.

I'VE BASICALLY BEEN IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS

MY WHOLE LIFE.

I'VE NEVER MADE MONEY DOING ANYTHING OTHER

THAN BEING PART OF A RESTAURANT CREW,

FROM START TO FINISH, SINCE ABOUT 12, 13 YEARS OLD.

I HAD DONE SOME CONVENTIONAL FARMING PROJECTS

TO SUPPLY RESTAURANTS THAT I'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN.

SO I LOOKED INTO ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF FARMING.

IN AN URBAN SETTING,

I FELT WITH THE DEAD SPACE OF THE ROOFTOP,

THE TECHNOLOGY WAS SMART.

IT JUST MAKES SENSE.

WE'RE IN THE WEST VILLAGE OF MANHATTAN.

WE'RE STANDING HERE

IN THE MIDDLE OF MY HYDROPONIC ROOFTOP FARM.

IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS A LOT OF CURIOSITY

AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON UP HERE,

BECAUSE IT LOOKS KIND OF SPACE-AGE FROM A DISTANCE.

AND I'VE EXPLAINED IT BY PHONE OR, YOU KNOW, IN PERSON.

AND NOW I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I TELL EVERYONE

YOU HAVE TO SEE IT.

THE SEED SITS INSIDE THIS NET,

WHERE THE ROOTS GROW INSIDE THE TOWER.

THIS BIG CYLINDER HAS A PUMP

THAT TRICKLES WATER DOWN THE SIDES,

AND THAT FEEDS THE ROOTS,

AND THAT RECYCLES THE NUTRIENTS.

THROUGH THE BOTTOM IS A BIG BASE

FILLED WITH AROUND 4 GALLONS OF THE NUTRIENTS,

WHICH IS FED NATURALLY BY GRAVITY.

WHAT I DO IS, I PULL THE CUP OUT OF THE TOWER.

SO YOU SEE HOW NICE

AND LIGHTLY COLORED THE ROOTS ARE.

AND LOOK HOW LONG THEY GET, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THAT'S--THAT'S STRONG.

SO LET'S LOOK AT THIS ARUGULA RIGHT HERE, OKAY?

WE JUST PULLED THAT A FEW HOURS AGO.

I BROKE IT DOWN, ROOTS ATTACHED.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M DOING.

AND I BELIEVE IT TOTALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

THE FLAVOR IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

WHEN YOU ENTER THE GARDEN FROM THE STAIRWELL

AND YOU OPEN THAT DOOR,

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A SANCTUARY OF SORTS.

- IT'S DOWN HERE, BUT I--

OOH, AM I GOING TO GET LUCKY?

NO, IT'S GONNA BE A HYDRANT.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH URBAN BEEKEEPING

IS PARKING YOUR TRUCK.

IT REALLY IS.

SOME HONEY FOR YOU LADIES?

- SURE.

- OKAY.

YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SOME HONEY FOR YOU, SOLDIER?

¿QUIERES PROBAR LA MIEL?

MIEL BATIDO.

WHIPPED HONEY?

NO, YOU'RE SWEET ENOUGH?

HONEY FOR YOU, MISS?

THAT'S THE PLAIN WHIPPED.

WE ALSO HAVE WHIPPED WITH CINNAMON.

- THE LOCAL HONEY'S REALLY GOOD FOR ALLERGIES?

- LOCAL HONEY IS VERY GOOD FOR ALLERGIES.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

- IN EAST VILLAGE.

- IN THE EAST VILLAGE.

THIS HONEY IS FROM 14TH AND 2ND,

SO IT'S VERY CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE.

- I SEE.

- THIS IS FROM BROOKLYN.

THE MANHATTAN HONEY HAS HIGHER RENT,

AND THE BROOKLYN HONEY HAS MORE ATTITUDE.

INSIDE THE HIVE, THERE'S THE QUEEN BEE,

THE WORKER BEES, WHICH ARE FEMALES,

AND THE DRONES, WHO ARE MALES.

ONCE THE QUEEN HAS BEEN MATED, SHE MAKES BABIES.

SHE LAYS UP TO 2,000 EGGS A DAY.

ONE BEEHIVE WILL PRODUCE

SOMETHING AROUND 80 TO 120 POUNDS OF HONEY PER YEAR.

AND I KNOW THEY HELP POLLINATE THE COMMUNITY GARDENS,

THE WINDOWSILLS, THE ROOFTOP FARMS

THAT SATURATE THE CITY.

THIS IS MY OFFICE,

THE ROOFTOPS OF WHAT IS, TO ME, THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD.

MMM.

- IT'S SHOWTIME.

HELLO, GOOD MORNING, HOW ARE YOU?

HOLA.

¿COMO ESTAS?

IT'S ALL IN THE PRESENTATION.

WE'RE IN THE TREMONT SECTION OF THE BRONX.

IT'S AN AREA THAT HAS, AS YOU CAN LOOK AROUND,

A LOT OF FAST-FOOD RESTAURANTS,

NOT A LOT OF ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD.

AND SO, AS URBAN GROWERS AND COMMUNITY GARDENERS,

SINCE WE GROW IT, WE KNOW IT.

WE DECIDED TO BRING FRESH PRODUCE

TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY GARDEN IS THE GARDEN OF HAPPINESS.

IT STARTED 23 YEARS AGO.

IT WAS A VACANT LOT.

MOST OF THE BOROUGHS IN NEW YORK CITY

IN THE LATE '70s AND '80s HAD SO MANY VACANT LOTS.

THERE WERE TWO THINGS TO DO,

EITHER TO LET THE DIRT AND GARBAGE ACCUMULATE

OR TAKE THAT VACANT LOT BACK AND START GROWING FOOD.

THE BIGGEST SHOW I HAVE IS WHEN A CUSTOMER COMES,

AND THEY'LL SAY, "WHERE ARE THOSE COLLARD GREENS?"

AND I SAY, "I GOT THEM FOR YOU."

NO MATTER WHAT, I WILL GROW COLLARD GREENS.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN INSTILL THAT INTO YOUNG PEOPLE

TO REALLY KNOW WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

NOT THAT EVERYONE CAN BE A FARMER,

EVEN THOUGH I WOULD LOVE THAT.

I WOULD LOVE THAT,

BUT AT LEAST EVERYONE CAN BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER.

- IT MADE SENSE TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE CITY

FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT REASONS:

GROWING FOOD AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE

TO THE CONSUMERS THAT EAT IT,

UTILIZING ALL THIS OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE,

ALL THESE ROOFS THAT JUST KIND OF HAVE THE SUN

BEATING DOWN ON THEM ALL DAY.

THE SOIL'S ABOUT 25% LIGHTER THAN A TYPICAL TOPSOIL WOULD BE

IF YOU JUST STUCK A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND.

SO THAT MAKES IT MORE SUITABLE TO ROOFS, OBVIOUSLY,

JUST BECAUSE IT IS LIGHTER.

THE STONES KIND OF RISE TO THE TOP.

AND THEY'RE ALL POROUS.

THEY ALL HAVE HOLES IN THEM.

AND IF YOU FEEL IT, YOU CAN JUST TELL IT'S LIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO PICK THAT CUCUZZA TOO.

LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S AWESOME, ISN'T IT?

PEOPLE LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S LOCALLY GROWN,

AND THEY ALMOST EXPECT IT SOMETIMES

FOR A MARKET LIKE THIS.

IT SHOULD BE THE CASE.

THIS MARKET'S BEEN GREAT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

PEOPLE ARE, LIKE, PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT,

AND THANKING US FOR BEING HERE.

- THIS IS ROBERTA'S.

IT'S A RESTAURANT LOCATED IN BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN.

IT'S ALMOST THREE YEARS OLD NOW.

AND WE MAKE PIZZA.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE MAKING A PIZZA

WITH TOMATOES FROM BROOKLYN GRANGE.

THEY'RE REALLY NICE HEIRLOOM TOMATOES.

THE PIZZA KITCHEN WILL SLICE UP,

AND SOMETIMES THEY'LL ACTUALLY MAKE A SAUCE OUT OF THEM.

IT'S REALLY NICE FOR ME BECAUSE

I WORK BOTH AT THE GRANGE AND HERE AT ROBERTA'S.

SO I'LL BE COMING BACK FROM THE FARM,

AND I'LL LOAD UP MY TRUCK WITH TOMATOES AND BRING THEM HERE,

AND THESE GUYS WILL MAKE PIZZA.

AND EVERYTHING KIND OF COMES TOGETHER.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT TO BE A FARMER

I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO LEAVE NEW YORK

AND MOVE OUTSIDE THE CITY.

BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT I CAN GET

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS RIGHT HERE.

- WHERE DOES OUR FOOD COME FROM?

IF WE COULD PRODUCE IT INSIDE THE CITY,

YOU COULD SAVE ON TRANSPORTATION

AND SPOILAGE AND PACKAGING AND UNPACKAGING,

AND YOU COULD MARKET IT RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUILDING.

SO YOU COULD HAVE A FARM WITH LOTS OF LAYERS IN IT,

MAYBE 10 OR 15 STORIES TALL,

FULLY INTEGRATED WITH HYDROPONICS AND AEROPONICS.

YOU COULD EVEN HAVE AQUAPONICS IN THE BASEMENTS,

RAISING TILAPIA OR STRIPED BASS OR MOLLUSKS.

AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO ALL THAT ALREADY.

THE FRUSTRATING PART OF IT IS, WHY DON'T WE DO IT?

- I BOUGHT THE LAST REMAINING REGISTERED FARM

IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE IN 1993.

AND I MADE A PLEDGE TO THE CITY THAT I WOULD HIRE YOUNG PEOPLE

FROM THE COMMUNITY TO WORK AT THE FARM.

IT STRUCK A CHORD WITH A LOT OF FOLKS IN MILWAUKEE.

AND I STARTED GETTING CALLS AND REQUESTS FOR ME

TO WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS.

WE STARTED ADDING, LIKE, THE AQUAPONICS, THE WORM SYSTEM,

STARTED PUTTING UP HOOP HOUSES,

THE ANIMALS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES.

WE HAVE A VERY INNOVATED RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM

THAT HEATS THE WATER SO WE CAN GROW TILAPIA.

AND ALSO, THAT HEATED WATER

HELPS KEEP OUR GREENHOUSES WARM DURING THE WINTER.

FOOD IS THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN OUR LIVES.

IT'S THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

PEOPLE ARE JUST REALIZING THAT IF THEY WANT TO BE HEALTHY,

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR FOOD

IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO REALLY SCALE THIS THING UP.

- AQUAPONICS IS THE CONJOINED SYSTEMS

FROM FISH PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTION,

BRINGING THEM TOGETHER IN A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.

OF THESE THREE SYSTEMS HERE,

"E," "F," AND "G" ARE DESIGNED FOR LETTUCE RIGHT NOW.

WE STARTED WITH AN UPSCALED MODEL OF WILL ALLEN'S,

CHANGED A FEW THINGS ON IT, TRIED TO MAKE IT

A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENT AND A LITTLE FASTER.

WE HAVE A PLACE FOR THE FISH TO LIVE,

A PLACE FOR THE PLANTS TO LIVE,

A PLACE FOR THE BACTERIA TO LIVE,

AND A PUMP TO PUSH THE WATER ALL THROUGH IT.

THE PUMP PROVIDES ALL THE PROPULSION,

JUST LIKE IN THE RIVER OR THE STREAM.

AND WE'VE JUST CAPTURED THAT INTO A LITTLE BITTY BOX.

AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF SIZES IN HERE.

- WHAT I LOVE THE MOST ABOUT MY JOB

IS KNOWING EVERY DAY, WHEN I GO IN THERE,

I AM WORKING ON SOMETHING THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT

THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS.

NO MATTER HOW TIRED ANY OF US ARE,

WE GET UP IN THE MORNING, AND WE WANT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN

AND BE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE,

THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REPLICATED IN ANY CITY,

IN ANY ABANDONED FACTORY, BUILDING, WAREHOUSE.

HELLO?

- HELLO.

- HI, PETER, I HAVE FISH FOR YOU.

- EXCELLENT.

COOL.

- IT'S YOUR TILAPIA.

- THAT'S GREAT.

I LOVE THE FACT YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOWN THE STREET.

I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE

HAVE A MISCONCEPTION OF WHAT TILAPIA IS LIKE.

WE TAKE SWISS CHARD, FINGERLING POTATOES,

AND SHALLOTS, ALL GROWN LOCALLY, SAUTEE IT ALL TOGETHER.

THEN WE SAUTEE THE TILAPIA

THAT WE HAVE SEASONED AND DUSTED IN FLOUR.

WE BROWN SOME BUTTER IN ANOTHER SAUTEE PAN.

AND WE JUST BRING IT ALL TOGETHER AT THE END.

PUT THE FISH ON TOP OF THE VEGETABLES,

AND THEN TOP THE FISH WITH THE BROWN BUTTER.

AND MINUS THE SALT, PEPPER, AND FLOUR, EVERYTHING IS LOCAL.

WE CALL IT THE ALL WISCONSIN DISH.

AND IT'S A REALLY, REALLY SIMPLE DISH,

AND EVERYONE SEEMS TO LIKE IT A LOT.

- WE FIGURE WITH 34 SYSTEMS IN THIS BUILDING,

AT THAT 7,500 FISH EVERY 5 TO 7 DAY MARK,

IT WILL EMPLOY, LIKE, 40 PEOPLE HERE.

IT WILL PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE 3- TO 5-MILE RADIUS AROUND US.

I MEAN, IT CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE.

- I BELIEVE WE'RE CREATING A NEW INDUSTRY

THAT COULD CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

THE THING THAT WE DO BEST IS INSPIRE PEOPLE

TO WANT TO GO OUT AND GET SOMETHING STARTED,

TO DO SOMETHING, TO REALLY INSPIRE THEM.

- MY NAME IS ABENI RAMSEY, AND I'M AN URBAN FARMER.

THROUGH MY EXPERIENCE AS A MOTHER LIVING IN WEST OAKLAND,

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME

FEEDING MY KIDS, AND WE WERE EATING TOP RAMEN.

AND BECAUSE OF MY UPBRINGING, I KNEW THAT THAT WASN'T RIGHT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I COULD AFFORD

BECAUSE I COULD BUY IT IN A PACK LIKE THIS FOR, LIKE, $5.00,

AND THEY SOLD IT AT THE CORNER STORE.

SO I WAS RIDING MY BICYCLE THROUGH WEST OAKLAND,

AND I SAW A SIGN POSTED BY CITY SLICKER FARMS

FOR FRESH PRODUCE.

AND THERE WAS THE FARM STAND.

AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL PRODUCE.

AND SO I STARTED GOING THERE.

AND THEN I FOUND OUT

THAT THEY WOULD BUILD PLANTER BOXES IN YOUR BACKYARD.

SO I APPLIED, AND I HAD THEM COME,

AND THEY BUILT THE PLANTER BOXES.

I GREW EVERYTHING WE NEEDED IN THE BACKYARD.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY ANY PRODUCE.

THEN I GOT A FLOCK OF CHICKENS,

AND WE THEN HAD OUR PROTEIN SOURCE, EGGS.

MY TRANSITION HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

I AM THE FARM MANAGER OF DIG DEEP FARMS

AND THE OWNER OF CITY GIRL FARMS.

WE ARE RIGHT NOW HARVESTING FOR OUR CSA,

OR COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, PRODUCE BOX,

WHICH IS DELIVERED TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

YOU GUYS NEED CLIPPERS?

THE WHOLE IDEA OF URBAN AGRICULTURE, WHAT GETS ME

IS THAT PEOPLE ACT LIKE IT'S SOME NEW AND REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FARMING IN THE CITY

SINCE THE TIME THERE WERE CITIES.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH FLORA RESTAURANT

AND THIS GREAT CHEF, RICO RIVERA,

WHO WILL BE PURCHASING PRODUCE FROM US DIRECTLY.

SWEET MIX.

- YEAH, THIS KIND IS INCREDIBLE.

TODAY, FROM ABENI, WE RECEIVED SOME NETTLES--WILD NETTLES.

UH, I'M THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD,

THE NETTLES, WE'RE GONNA THROW THEM

IN ONE OF OUR CHICKPEA RAGOUTS.

IN THE PAN, WE SAUTEE SOME ONIONS, THROW IN THE CHICKPEAS,

SOME ROASTED DELICATA SQUASH, SOME ROASTED ONIONS

THAT WE SAUTEE UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BROWN SUGAR.

THE NETTLES COMPLEMENT THAT REAL NICELY WITH THEIR EARTHINESS.

TOSS, TOSS, ON THE PLATE, REAL JUICY,

WITH OUR GRILLED FLATBREAD ON THE TOP.

IT'S AMAZING.

YOU CAN'T GET CLOSER TO THE SOURCE

THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

I MEAN, AGAIN, THEY'RE PROBABLY 6 MILES AWAY.

WE ORDER, SHE PICKS, IT'S HERE IN THE MORNING.

- WHO IS IT?

- HI, IT'S DIG DEEP.

- OH, HI.

OH, WITH MY FRESH VEGETABLES.

- HI, LORRAINE.

- I APPRECIATE THIS SO.

- OF COURSE.

- THIS IS SO GREAT.

- IT'S A MODERN IDEA THAT YOU GET YOUR FOOD FROM A STORE.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU GET YOUR FOOD.

SO YOU'RE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON "THE GROCERY STORE"

TO PROVIDE FOR YOU WHAT YOU NEED.

YOU CAN LIVE IN A COMMUNITY

WHERE THEY DON'T PUT GROCERY STORES,

WHERE THERE ARE NO JOBS,

AND WHERE THERE IS LIMITED TRANSPORTATION,

AND IT'S LIKE LIVING IN THE THIRD WORLD.

[hip-hop music]

-♫IN THE CITY OF DREAMS♫

♫LIONS, TIGERS, AND WINGS♫

♫VIOLENCE SEEM TO BE THE ONLY THING♫

♫DEPICTED ON THE SCREEN♫

♫WELL, THERE'S MORE TO THE MOTOR CITY♫

♫COME AND STROLL IT WITH ME♫

♫GOT TO SIDESTEP THE IGNORANCE♫

♫AND STEP INTO BLACK BUSINESSES♫

- REALLY, FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS,

DETROIT HAS EXPERIENCED A DECLINE IN POPULATION.

AND SO WITH THE DECLINE IN POPULATION

CAME A DECLINE IN THE CITY'S TAX BASE.

SO THAT'S IMPACTED THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO MAINTAIN

THE SAME INFRASTRUCTURE IT HAD MAINTAINED PRIOR TO 1950.

IN 1950, THE POPULATION OF THE CITY WAS ABOUT 2 MILLION,

AND NOW IT'S SOMEWHERE ABOUT 750,000 OR SO.

THERE'S MANY NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF DETROIT NOW

WHERE THERE'S NO PLACE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE

TO GET FRESH PRODUCE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY DETROIT RESIDENTS

ARE EATING OUT OF GAS STATIONS OR OUT OF CONVENIENCE STORES.

THAT, OF COURSE, IS CAUSING A HEALTH CRISIS.

- AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY THEY'RE SICK.

NUMBER SO-AND-SO YELLOW, NUMBER SO-AND-SO BLUE IS NOT FOOD.

CHECK THE CHILDREN'S CEREAL

AND READ THE LABEL ON WHAT'S IN THERE, FOLKS.

IT'S KILLING YOU.

BUT IT DOES IT SLOWLY.

- THERE WERE A LOT OF HOMES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, WHEN I WAS COMING UP.

BUT AS I GOT OLDER, I WATCHED THEM DECREASE BY THE MONTH.

HOMES WERE BURNED DOWN, TORE DOWN, PEOPLE MOVED AWAY,

AND THE HOMES BECAME VACANT.

PEOPLE STRIPPED THEM,

AND THEN PEOPLE SET THEM ON FIRE.

- THEY START BURNING DOWN ALL THE GARAGES.

AND PEOPLE START MOVING OUT.

I HAD A TWO-CAR GARAGE WITH AN APARTMENT UPSTAIRS.

THEY BURNED THAT DOWN TOO.

IT FELT REAL BAD AT FIRST.

AND THEN I SAID, "OKAY, I MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT BETTER

BY ADOPTING A LOT AND PUTTING A GARDEN ON IT."

- MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN LOOKING AT URBAN AGRICULTURE

AS A WAY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR FOOD SOURCES

AND TO KIND OF FILL THE VOID THAT'S BEEN CREATED

BY THE DEPARTURE OF SUPERMARKETS THAT WERE ONCE IN DETROIT.

- I GUESS MY STOMACH LED ME TO ALL THIS.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, A LOT OF US HERE IN DETROIT

HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING GOOD, LOCAL FOOD,

HEALTHY FOOD, AND SOMEWHAT INEXPENSIVE FOOD.

THERE'S A REALLY STRONG DEMAND

FOR LOCAL AND CHEMICAL-FREE PRODUCE.

- THE IDEA OF HAVING CHICKENS IN THE CITY CAME TO ME--

I WAS TALKING TO THE HEAD CHEF AT SLOWS BARBECUE.

AND HE WAS TELLING ME

THAT HE WOULD BUY EGGS FROM ME EVERY WEEK.

THEN I ASKED, "HOW MANY DOZEN DOES THE RESTAURANT GO THROUGH?"

HE'S LIKE, "TWO CASES A WEEK.

THAT'S 60 DOZEN PER WEEK THAT WE WOULD BUY FROM YOU."

AND SO I FIGURED WE WOULD NEED ABOUT 124 CHICKENS,

GIVE OR TAKE ONE OR TWO, BECAUSE SOME OF THEM

DON'T LAY EVERY DAY.

SOME CHICKENS WON'T TAKE TO EGG LAYING IMMEDIATELY.

- I WANT YOU TO GET A GOOD SHOT OF THIS OKRA RIGHT HERE.

AND YOU TAKE AND HARVEST IT.

AND YOU CAN'T BEAT REAL OKRA.

AND IT IS DELICIOUS.

MMM!

THE CITY IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT FARMLAND IS INCREASING.

EVERY TIME THEY TEAR DOWN A HOUSE OR TEAR DOWN THIS,

THAT'S POTENTIAL FARMLAND.

- I GROW ALL TYPES OF GREENS,

TOMATOES, OKRA, CORN, BEANS,

EGGPLANTS, WATERMELON,

CANTALOUPE, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH,

ONION, LEEK,

AND A LOT MORE STUFF.

- WE HAVE SOARING RATES OF OBESITY,

BOTH FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

WE HAVE SOARING RATES OF HYPERTENSION,

OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART DISEASE.

BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE, TO SOME EXTENT,

CONTROLLABLE BY DIET.

- I WAS ALWAYS A HEAVYSET GUY UNTIL MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AGO,

WHEN I SLIMMED UP AND LOST ABOUT 125 POUNDS.

- YOU GET EXERCISE.

YOU GET, YOU KNOW, GOOD, FRESH FOOD.

I THINK LIVING ON THE FARM AND EATING

A BETTER GRADE OF FOOD MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN LIFE.

SEE, I COME OUT IN THE GARDEN,

WORK THE GARDEN,

AND AS I'M WORKING,

I EAT SOME OF EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE GARDEN.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS.

FRESH.

IT DON'T NEED A SALAD THAT'S BEEN CUT UP

AND BEEN IN A BAG AND WENT HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

- EVERYBODY'S BEEN PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE WANTING TO COME BY AND SEE THE CHICKENS,

AND PEOPLE WANTING TO DONATE.

AND PEOPLE ASKING, "IS THERE ANY LIST THAT I CAN GET ON

"WHERE I'LL BE FIRST IN LINE?

"YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY LINE

FOR DELIVERIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT?"

LOCAL RESTAURANTS HAVE SUPPORTED.

EVEN LOCAL CATERING COMPANIES HAVE SUPPORTED US.

SO WE'RE GETTING NOTHING BUT LOVE.

- I PUT IN FOR 14 LOTS,

AND THE CITY LET ME HAVE 14 LOTS.

AND THAT'S ONLY A QUARTER OF THE BLOCK.

I WANT THE WHOLE BLOCK.

- IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT DETROIT JUST HAS

ALL THE ODDS STACKED AGAINST IT, DETROITERS HAVE

THIS RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY REBUILD THEIR CITY.

AND WE'RE DOING IT.

- I'M WILLING TO DO MY PART.

I WILL TAKE IT ONE BLOCK AT A TIME.

AND IF NOBODY WILL WANT IT, I WILL TAKE THE NEXT BLOCK.

IF IT'S VACANT, I'LL TAKE IT.

[hip-hop music]

♫♫

-♫FROM ABANDONED LOTS♫

♫TO GARDEN PLOTS♫

♫THE CITY ON THE RISE♫

♫FROM WORKING IN THE PLANT♫

♫BACK TO CONTROLLING OUR LIVES♫

♫9:00 TO 5:00 ONLY PAY THE RENT♫

♫DICTATIN' HOW THE DAY IS SPENT♫

♫AND DINNER AT THE DRIVE-THRU♫

♫JUST AIN'T MAKING SENSE♫

♫GOT ME CONVINCED♫

♫THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE AMENDS♫

♫IS TO PLANT SEEDS♫

♫WHERE THEM WEEDS GROW BEHIND THE FENCE♫

♫IT'S A MOVEMENT IN THE STREETS NOW♫

♫ASK MALIK FROM D-TOWN♫

♫WE FARMING OUT AT RUTH PARK♫

♫THE WHOLE CITY CAN EAT NOW♫

- MY VISION FOR DETROIT IS SEEING PEOPLE WORKING AGAIN.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT,

LIVING IN DETROIT, WE ARE A FAMILY.

AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

- EVERYWHERE YOU GO IN THE WORLD NOW,

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN THEY BRING

THEIR FOOD SUPPLY CLOSER TO WHERE THEY LIVE.

- I'M NOT SAYING THAT INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE IS GOING TO GO AWAY,

BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

- WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING

THAT GARDENS CAN REPLACE SUPERMARKETS.

BUT WE THINK THAT THIS CAN BE AN ALTERNATIVE.

- LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

I THINK IT'S A REVOLUTIONARY ACT

TO PLANT A TOMATO PLANT IN YOUR BACKYARD.

- ROOFTOP GARDENING, TO ME, IS OFF THE HOOK.

IT'S EVOLUTIONARY.

THIS IS THE FUTURE; YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.

- I'M HOPING THAT PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, "LOOK AT TRAV.

"YOU KNOW, HE GREW UP FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I DID.

"HE WENT THROUGH THE SAME STUFF THAT I DID,

"YOU KNOW, TROUBLE AND WHATNOT.

MAYBE I CAN DO THAT."

- [laughing]

IF I COULD BE ANY VEGETABLE,

I WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO BE A TOMATO.

- I WOULD PROBABLY BE AN EGGPLANT.

I LIKE--I THINK THEY'RE A COOL VEGETABLE.

THEY'RE, LIKE, SUPER UNIQUE.

- GARLIC, DEFINITELY GARLIC.

I'M A GARLIC PERSON.

I AM A FLAVOR MOLECULE THAT WANTS

TO GET INTO EVERYBODY'S CUISINE AND SPICE IT UP.

- RIGHT NOW I'D BE ARUGULA.

BECAUSE I'M SPICY.

I'M ALL HOT AND BOTHERED.

I'M ALL MIXED UP WITH SOME OTHER,

YOU KNOW, SEXY INGREDIENTS.

- I'D BE A BRUSSELS SPROUT.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS ARE SURPRISING.

YOU KNOW, THEY COME UP,

AND THEY LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT BE BROCCOLI.

AND THEN IT CHANGES, AND YOU'RE NOT SURE.

AND THEY'RE NOT EASY TO GROW.

BUT THEN YOU GET THESE LITTLE NUGGETS OF DELICIOUSNESS.

AND SO I SUPPOSE THAT'S ME.

I'M ALWAYS CHANGING.

IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO GROW UP.

BUT I THINK I'M NOW A NUGGET OF DELICIOUSNESS.