On Monday, June 20, 2016, 4:00pm, our Annual Outing took us to Corktown. We visited Fresh Cut Detroit, our city’s only urban farm specializing in cut flowers. Owner Sarah Pappas lead us on a tour of her unique enterprise. After the tour, we enjoyed a mix and meet reception with wine, lemonade, fruit and other refreshments. Our second stop was neighboring Brother Nature Farm. Owner Greg Willerer gave us a tour of one of Detroit’s best known urban farms. We had a dinner catered by Pink Flamingo, the people whose food truck was so popular during our Home and Garden Tour. The dinner was “alfresco” (outside) at Brother Nature Farm.
The cost for the evening, including dinner with wine, was $25 for members and $28 for guests.
Menu by Pink Flamingo
Brother Nature Green Salad, with Vinaigrette Dressing
Rice balls. with Caramelized Onion, Spring Vegetables, Herbs, Chaat Masala
Grilled Chicken Satay or Tofu Satay with Vermicelli Noodle Salad
Mulberry Hand-pies with Cream
(Wine, Water and Lemonade included.)
Sarah Pappas and a late summer dahlia.
OUR FARMERS
I’m Sarah Pappas, and Fresh Cut Detroit is my farm, founded in 2013. I grow as many types of flowers as I can muster, for just about any purpose you can imagine. I enjoy doing my own event and design work, as well as selling directly to florists and wholesalers. I have been working in agriculture-related justice work for ten years, and I’m learning more every single season.
I am an active member of the Garden Resource Program, Grown in Detroit, and Detroit’s community of growers. I have love and passion for efficient growing systems, collaborative education, preserving heirloom varieties, trading perennial stock and seeds, and advancing the aesthetics of local flowers. I am a BUILD graduate, a Kiva Zip loan recipient, winner of Detroit Soup, recipient of a USDA EQIP grant, and proud member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. The week of our tour, a nice article about Sarah was published: Foraging for Flowers with Fresh Cut Detroit
Olivia & Greg Willerer will welcome us to their farm, Brother Nature Produce.
Greg Willerer is founder of Brother Nature Produce. Six years ago, Greg started a farm on an acre of land in Corktown. With family members in the restaurant business, he saw a market for high end locally sourced produce. His successful venture has expanded with additional acres near Port Huron. Today his produce is available at Eastern Market, Wayne State’s farmers’ market, the Downtown Farmer’s Market and the new Corktown Market. It is also featured at local restaurants including the Rattlesnake Club and Woodbridge Pub. To learn more: Greg Willerer: Brother Nature
DIRECTIONS
It is about six miles from Indian Village to Fresh Cut, 1764 W Forest Ave, Detroit, MI 48208. It takes about 20 minutes to drive there form Indian Village.
Fresh Cut is on the NE corner 1764 W. Forest and Rosa Parks We will meet there at about 4:00pm. Note: W. Forest is one-way east and Rosa Parks is one-way north. There is no sign at Fresh Cut, you will see a greenhouse and newly planted flower beds. You may park in the south side of W. Forest and careful cross the street. Or you may park on Avery, the next side street, turning either left or right. (Avery is surprisingly charming.) We will tour the farm and enjoy a wine, lemonade and cheese “mix & meet” reception.
Between 5:00 and 5:30, we will leave Fresh Cut and go to Brother Nature at 2913 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48216.. It is 1.5 miles from Fresh Cut Detroit to Brother Nature. It takes about 5 minutes to drive. Brother Nature is on the NW corner corner of Rosa Parks and Temple.We will meet on Temple, west of Rosa Park. You will see several picnic tables and the Pink Flamingo Food Truck on the north side of Temple. There is ample street parking on Temple. Between 5:00 or 5:30, Greg will start a tour of the farm. At 6:30.we will have dinner, at outside picnic tables.
MAP LINKS: Indian Village to Fresh Cut Cut Fresh to Brother Nature
A big thank you to Renata for the photos from the Outing.
