WJP Urban Farms: at 91, Willie Patmon is still teaching on reclaimed land

DETROIT. Willie Patmon is 91 and still runs WJP Urban Farms, the plot of reclaimed land he cleared and built more than 14 years ago. He grows vegetables and teaches young people persistence, accountability, and self-sufficiency along the way.

Patmon bans the word "can't" on the farm and turns everyday chores, like pulling rocks from the soil, into lessons. Parents of students with special needs say his patient teaching builds real confidence. Victoria Llorens helps connect the farm to the wider community.

Water, soil, tools, and permits all cost money, and the margins stay thin. Patmon keeps finding a way.