Grand Traverse group approves gardening project

Grand Traverse District Neighborhood Association agreed to support an urban gardening project in Aldrich Park. Joanna Lehrman, a graduate of Michigan State University, is developing the project to create more jobs and to produce local food.  If approved by the city, planting will begin this summer. The project would cover between four and nine acres of land.

"We've been working with the city and the Land Bank to develop this project," Lehrman said.  Because of her work at the university, she has developed a passion for urban gardening.  She plans on working with the city to use the area where leaves have been deposited.  She said the leaves will be used as compost, preventing them from leaching into the river.

Lehrman's business plan includes selling the produce to local businesses.

"We will not be selling outside of Genesee County," she said.  To gain support, she is talking to Steady Eddie's Café and Dale's Natural Foods. She also has discussed selling at the Farmers' Market.

However, Lehrman said, she does not want to compete with local farmers.  "We want to join farmers," she said.

She plans to hire adults to farm and watch over the crops to provide employment.

"Our goal is to be self sustaining," she said.  She plans to produce enough food on the land to be able to feed the employees.

She would like to work with local schools to incorporate farming into the curriculum.  "Kids would be able to come out and volunteer, learn what compost is," she said.  Possibilities of school lunch programs were also discussed.

Lehrman got a letter of support for her plans from Grand Traverse President Heidi Phaneuf.  However, Phaneuf said, Lehrman will need to get more support from local foundations, residents and businesses.

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