Peace Garden: a Detroit family grows food on Grand River, for now

DETROIT. Toria Turner and her family have run the Peace Garden next to City Temple Church on Grand River since 2023. Turner, her husband Brian, and their sons grow vegetables, fruits, and flowers on what was an empty lot.

Turner works as Keep Growing Detroit's volunteer coordinator and has a background as a healthcare worker and doula. The garden honors her mother and her grandfather's history of growing food for neighbors in Southwest Detroit.

The family waters, harvests, composts, and weeds every week. Turner wants it to host community dinners eventually; for now, she's building the soil.