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Growing Knowledge, Nourishing Communities
FOROT's Urban Agriculture initiative promotes hands-on education, healthy living, and community engagement through Sankofa Community Garden, our teaching and learning garden.
Originally established as Grant Park Garden, the initiative evolved into Sankofa Community Garden through a partnership with Michigan State University Extension. Designed as an eight-week educational experience for youth ages 6–15, the garden provides guided instruction in organic gardening, planting, food cultivation, and environmental stewardship while encouraging physical activity and practical learning.
During its early years, the garden also provided community plots where residents could grow crops or establish commemorative flower gardens. Throughout its evolution, Sankofa has operated at three locations, adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining its educational mission.
Today, Sankofa continues as a teaching and learning garden at a single site. Its activities complement FOROT's Healthy Futures health and nutrition programming by connecting the experience of growing food with nutrition education, food awareness, and healthier choices.
Through Sankofa, FOROT continues to cultivate knowledge, strengthen connections between generations, and encourage a greater understanding of where our food comes from and how it contributes to community wellness.
Planting, Growing, and Learning Together
Learning in the Garden
Sankofa Community Garden provides opportunities for youth and community volunteers to learn by doing. Participants engage in preparing garden beds, planting seeds and seedlings, caring for crops, and observing the growing process from season to season.
Over the years, FOROT has also extended its gardening education through community collaborations, including a summer school garden experience associated with FUEL. These activities reinforce the connection between growing food, nutrition, and everyday healthy choices.
Gardening also brings practical challenges. Protecting young plants and seedlings from wildlife, managing growing conditions, and maintaining healthy crops are part of the ongoing learning experience. Through these challenges, participants develop problem-solving skills, patience, and an understanding of the care required to sustain a productive garden.
With the contributions of community volunteers, Sankofa continues to serve as a place where gardening knowledge is shared, practical skills are developed, and the relationship between food and community wellness is explored.
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