Farming In The Inner City

By Anne Hasenberg

SVSU is bridging with the Saginaw community to dust off the current economic plight with a new approach to the problem of urban areas having limited access to healthy foods. 

On Nov. 5, the newly formed Saginaw Urban Food Initiative (SUFI) began installing non-soil-based indoor hydroponics farming systems in the basements of Saginaw’s Houghton-Jones Resource Center and Good Neighbors Mission.

Low-income inner-city residents have a problem accessing healthy food. Despite the high density of fast food restaurants and convenience stores, many inner cities have developed food deserts where access to healthy food, such as fresh produce, is limited. 

National level research indicates that factors such as these have led to lower consumption of fruits and vegetables by low-income populations. Currently in the state of Michigan, 12.2 percent of people are classified as being food insecure or lacking reliable and consistent access to healthy food.

This problem grabbed the attention SVSU Assistant Professor of sociology Brian Thomas. Thomas has partnered with Chris Schilling, SVSU’s Charles J. Strosacker Endowed Chair, and Edward C. Meisel, an instructor of chemistry at SVSU, to work with members of the Green Cardinal Initiative and SUFI on jumpstarting the hydroponics project.

Thomas said the problem is the rising fuel and food prices that are a burden on the Saginaw community members. 

“[Our] project is untested but shows potential to help the surrounding community have access to fresh and healthy food all year long,” Thomas said. 

The two low-cost hydroponics systems were developed by SVSU using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, lumber, a pump and some hardware. Each unit has 48 holes and is capable of producing up to 48 plants at a time, producing averages up to about 100 plants per site.

Each of the hydroponics units would eliminate the problems of seasonality, soil quality, contamination and fragmented land. The food grown will feed people in the Good Neighbors Mission and Houghton-Jones Resource Center who do not have the resources to purchase food.

The use of low-cost hydroponics systems and soil-less gardening to produce fresh vegetables tests will occur throughout the winter season. A workshop is planned to follow in May 2009. 

Funding for the hydroponics project is provided through grants from The Saginaw Community Foundation, SVSU and members of the community centers associated with SUFI. 

SUFI is a collaborative effort between representatives from the city of Saginaw, the Mustard Seed House, the Good Neighbors Mission, SVSU and the Houghton Jones Resource Center.

The project, which is still in its early planning stages, will help urban areas sustain affordable, healthy food through winter.

“It’s important that students get involved with the project, because if this works, we’re going to train people to implement this in the county,” Thomas said.

Students wishing to participate in the Green Cardinals Initiative can e-mail Thomas at bjthoma1@svsu.edu or visit www.svsu.edu/greencard.