By Kristie Schiefer
Assistant News Editor
Mike Davis, founder of Hamtown Farms, spoke to a group of 40 students and faculty members about his urban farming project in Walsh Ampitheater at 4:30 pm Wednesday afternoon.
Davis, a Hamtramck, MI native, came up with the idea of Hamtown Farms when he would pass vacant city lots at the corner of his street twice a day.
“It’s depressing. Something has to happen here,” Davis said. “Something needs to happen here.”
Hamtramck, Michigan’s most densely populated city, doesn’t have a lot of public space and a scarcity in the food supply exists for the people, according to Davis.
“There are people on top of each other packed like rats. A lot of poor people,” he said.
While dining with a friend one morning, she (who) handed him a Pawpaw (a tropical-type fruit) to taste.
“From that point on I knew what I wanted to do,” Davis said.
Hamtown Farms, founded on June 9, 2012, is a working orchard and community garden that allows people to cultivate their own garden or pick from the public designated sections.
“After more than a year of planning, about 100 people showed up – kids, firefighters, the mayor,” Davis said. “It’s just amazing to see the community take a part in it.”
The gardens are supported by cash donations and the garden in turn supports the community, according to Davis.
“It’s a public pick. Half of the raised beds are private, the other half is marked as public,” Davis said. “There are radishes and collard greens. People are more than welcome to pick.”
Some community members have their own gardens as well to cultivate anything they like, and the kids want in.
“When we first started, the kids came out with a box of croutons,” Davis said. “They wanted to plant croutons.”
While carrying out the project, Davis followed his self created “Rules of Doing Good.” The rules include a step-by-step plan for Davis to follow, including not taking oneself too seriously (hence the overalls).
“If anyone wants to do anything good in their community, don’t expect anything back,” Davis said.
There have been problems with Davis’ garden. He told a story about Dylan, an autistic 16-year-old, who planted his own garden, but was soon ripped out of the ground by a vandal.
“It’s really disheartening; really frustrating,” Davis said. “I knew something like this was going to happen.”
But Davis has created something he calls ‘worth protecting’ and plans to get more people involved in farming by surrounding the farms with a fence next spring.
Davis also explained part of his rules including ‘asking and asking again’ and engaging in the community.
“All you have to do is ask,” he said. “People aren’t going to go to you; you have to go to them.”
That’s just what Davis did. In coming in contact with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), they also showed a great interest in Davis’ project.
“I got a phone call [from the DAR] that said George Washington himself had a Pawpaw grown. They were crazy excited and wanted to honor the farm for what it has done,” he said.
Davis, however, urged everyone to choose wisely the offerings of such organizations in order to save time.
“For every twenty things you pursue, maybe one will come through,” he said.
Besides the support, Davis also said planning is essential.
“I didn’t think I’d have to design a water system or worry about sightlines for traffic,” he said.
Another rule Davis made sure to highlight was learning. Davis admitted he knew nothing about growing Pawpaws upon starting the project and had to contact those who did.
“Learn everything,” he said.
In a part of the United States that isn’t so glamorous, Davis has rejuvenated a neighborhood, according to Michael Jones-Kelley, lecturer in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
“He has done more with his life than is required,” Jones-Kelley said. “I’m very proud to have known him.”
Davis even presented a Pawpaw plant to David J. DiMattio, Ph.D., Dean of Clare College, just for the university.
schiefkm1o@bonaventure.edu
