Advertisement

Farming A Following

By Emell Derra Adolphus

Tyson Gersh is the president and co-founder of the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. Photo: Emell Derra Adolphus

We've heard just about every freaky thing the gay social app Grindr is used for, but volunteer recruitment takes the cake. Meet Tyson Gersh, president of the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative, who is slowly cultivating a farm boy "tribe" through his access to the local gay social network.
"I think the important narrative here is the power of communities," says Gersh, president and co-founder of the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative.
On the surface, the farming initiative is another agricultural based non-profit, and hipster haven, devoted to providing a source of fresh produce to Detroiters. But its true richness, says Gersh, 24, is buried beyond food production, and lies in its ability to grow organically as a community fixture through its use of networks – more pointedly, gay social networks.
"The reality is, (MUFI) was built through gay social networks," Gersh says.
He explains, using social networks such as Grindr – combined with gratuitous photos of hard-bodied volunteers on Facebook – allowed the initiative to reach a wider audience, gay and straight. Through word-of-mouth and referrals, he has been able to build connections with the right people. And since its founding in 2012, the organization continues to steadily grow. "If I were straight I would not get access to the people that I did," says Gersh, who you could say turned the signature "hey" Grindr greeting into help for his cause.
"That's how startups work, right? You recruit your friends," says Gersh, with a laugh. "I should make it very clear that this was not sexually based," he adds, but a little farmer boy-esque eye candy only helps.
On a typical volunteer day at the MUFI farm, there are enough well-built men walking around, including Gersh, to suggest the non-profit may also raise its own "beef." The atmosphere is a calm and committed network of friends; friends of friends, girlfriends with their boyfriends – all of whom saw something in the farming initiative they admired and became committed to support its mission.
"Communities exist in a lot of different ways, and the gay community is a good example of one of them," says Gersh, a senior at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, studying psychology. "The gay community is really unique, diverse, multicultural and generational across professional communities. And the common link between (some) people is being gay."
Located in Detroit's North End neighborhood (7432 Brush St.), Gersh co-founded MUFI with vice president Darin McLeskey through a shared interest in agriculture. After purchasing a lot in a tax auction, Gersh says it become clear upon cultivating the land for farming that the community should follow. "It's about having an equitable food system where people are on a level playing field," in a community unleveled by socioeconomic disparity, he says.
"While we initially went in only with the intent of using agriculture," Gersh says, "we found the real value that we could provide was much more diverse." And that value is rooted in social change.
Since the MUFI's founding, it has clocked over 30,000 volunteer hours, produced more than 10,000 pounds of produce in its first growing season and has utilized more than 3,000 volunteers from all over Michigan. Using agriculture as a platform, the initiative promotes education of food production, community and ecological sustainability.
"Any nonprofit in the city of Detroit needs to meet the needs of its community," Gersh explains, and he credits MUFI's acceptance in the community to the model of meeting a need, not selling a service.
Says Gersh: "What I became interested in is structural inequality in the food system," which are the barriers that prevent people from eating safe, healthy foods. "I became obsessed and interested in platforms that might work against it or work to repair it."
MUFI is currently pursuing the construction of these three (of 15) projects: a non-profit incubator, designed to accommodate smaller non-profits seeking to promote community sustainability; a production urban farm for large volume crops and training center; and a shipping container building to house farm supplies.
"A lot of the needs of our community weren't just about agriculture but extended from general manual labor to landscaping, mechanical and house renovations," says Gersh about the areas surrounding the MUFI grounds. "Surely, through the MUFI community, we had access to these things. So responding to the needs of our community, that's what we have been delivering: using the MUFI network to be relevant in our community."
Gersh, who also serves as the director of development for Detroit-based non-profit Hostel Detroit and the Ann Arbor-based optiMize Social Innovation Challenge, says he is always looking for people who are willing to donate their services.
"And that's what community development is all about. We were able to establish credibility and legitimacy through our accomplishments," says Gersh, who explains he has a greater understanding of how home improvement and gardening can be empowering on a small and large scale.
"Having the ability to shape the world around you is one of the most powerful things an individual can do," Gersh says. "Knowing that you can change the physical, that's where the power of gardening really lies. "
He adds: "Building a community of empowered individuals one garden at a time."
Want to get involved or donate money? Workdays are every Saturday at the MUFI farm, 7432 Brush St., Detroit. For more information, email [email protected] or visit http://MiUFI.org.

Advertisement
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Directory default
Located adjacent to the University of Michigan in the charming city of Ann Arbor, the Graduate…
Learn More
Directory default
Presented by HotWorks.org last weekend of July & voted top 100 in the nation. Plenty of free…
Learn More
Directory default
Home Auto Life Health Business Insurance IRA's Mutual Funds
Learn More
Advertisement