By Chase Woolner 

    On Saturday, July 18, team members from Quicken Loans volunteered their green thumbs at the Capuchin Earthworks Urban Farm in Detroit.  Earthworks is a program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen that was started in 1997 to help battle poverty in the area as well as promote the consumption of fresh vegetables.

    Before work began, volunteers were introduced to the garden and their jobs by Capuchin workers going over the safety rules of the garden and tools for the volunteers.  Team members were assigned sections of the garden to work, including weeding, sorting compost and harvesting squash.  Team members had a variety of options to start off with and work began and continued at a quick pace on the cool summer morning.  Many team members were accompanied by family members who also volunteered their time in the garden.  

    Earthworks grows a variety of produce including carrots, strawberries and watermelons that are grown to support the Capuchin Soup Kitchen which his just down the street.  Hanging from the ceiling in the Kitchen were freshly picked bunches of garlic from the week before.

    The Capuchin Soup kitchen was founded by Capuchin Friars in 1929 during the Great Depression.  What started as handing out bread and sandwiches has transformed into an organization that serves 2,000 hot meals a day and over 300,000 pounds of food a month.  The soup kitchen also provides clothing, furniture, substance abuse treatment and showering facilities for the needy.

    As the afternoon came to an end, a huddle was called for a debriefing of what was accomplished and learned while in the garden.  Everyone left the farm knowing that their hard work would be put to good use in the meals that will be prepared for local residents in need.

“Poverty isn’t just about a lack of money or a lack of food. It is a detachment from the natural world from which all life and wealth flows.”-- Capuchin Brother Rick Samyn, June 2000

Click Here to see More photos of the Garden