Courtney Kileys Ecology class zoomed through the bike paths of Metro Detroit last week, identifying species of trees and birds along the way. This annual trip allowed the students to immerse themselves in Detroit, while also getting a glimpse into the urban farming process.

Ecology student, Emily Yesowitz, was able to learn about urban ecology while still having fun.

‘I thought that this trip was super fun,” Yesowitz said. “It was a chance to see how ecology can interact with a city, which is super interesting because those two are usually contradictory, but they don’t have to be.”

Another Ecology student, Briar Nordstrom, helped seal bean seeds into bags. Even though it seemed like a small task, Nordstrom knew it had a big impact.

“I’ve been interested in Keep Growing Detroit for a very long time, Nordstrom said. “Even though we’re just bagging beans, it’s contributing to a larger project that I really believe in, which is food sovereignty here in Detroit.”