Our Garden

A vibrant space where community and nature thrive together.

Meet Loretta Powell

Founder & Lead Educator

Loretta Powell is a "Farmer-Educator" driven by a deep love for her city and its people. As a professional educator, she spent years teaching in traditional classrooms, but her vision always extended beyond four walls. Guided by the farming legacy of her father—an autoworker who cultivated his own vegetable gardens—Loretta set out to heal and revitalize her neighborhood from the ground up.

In honor of her mother, Little Henretter Puryear, Loretta established the Little Detroit Community Garden. Today, she stands at the forefront of Detroit’s urban agriculture movement as an active member of the Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund and the proud recipient of the 2023 Dream Builder Award for her transformative leadership in the East Canfield neighborhood.

Our Story: From Rain Garden to Urban Oasis

What started as a practical solution to local infrastructure challenges has blossomed into a thriving community asset.

• 2019 (The Seed): Faced with neighborhood flooding, Loretta created a Butterfly Shape Rain Garden to naturally manage stormwater and beautify the block [1, 2].

• The Growth: Recognizing a deep need for fresh food access and safe community gathering spaces, she expanded the footprint into a fully operational community garden [1].

• Today (The Sanctuary): The garden now features a large community gazebo for neighborhood block clubs, a "Leading Library" filled with books for local youth, an orchard, and a pollinator sanctuary bursting with native Michigan plants [1, 2].

What We Do

🌻 Intergenerational Gathering

We believe a strong community spans all ages. Our garden features handicap-accessible pathways so seniors and neighbors with mobility challenges can safely harvest and socialize alongside local children.

🥬 Food Sovereignty

Operating in a recognized food desert, the garden provides free, fresh, and nutritious produce—including collard greens, eggplants, tomatoes, and watermelons—directly to our East Canfield neighbors.

🎒 Youth Empowerment

Loretta uses the garden to plant seeds of "civic pride" in Detroit’s youth. Through interactive children's garden tours, outdoor story times, and hands-on ecology lessons, we teach the next generation how to grow their own food and take ownership of their environment.

FAQs

Where is the garden?

It’s on Montclair Street, Detroit’s East Side.

Who founded it?

Loretta Powell, a Detroit native, educator, and farmer, started it.

What can visitors do here?

Visitors can join garden tours, attend story times, and help harvest fresh produce.

Is it accessible to everyone?

Yes, with handicap-accessible paths for all neighbors.

Do you offer fresh food?

We provide free fresh veggies to our local community.

How does the garden help youth?

Through hands-on lessons and outdoor story times, youth learn to grow food and build pride.