Sixteen miles south of Marquette in KI Sawyer, a once-bustling military base, a remarkable initiative has taken root—Let’s Grow KI (LGKI). As the Director of LGKI, Jordan Russell’s journey began unexpectedly in 2020 when the pandemic drastically shifted her role in event production management, thereby leaving her with unexpected time on her hands. Her background in event production collided with a desire to invest in her community, igniting a passion for addressing food insecurity at KI Sawyer. Moreover, food insecurity is a personal issue for Jordan, having experienced it early on in her life.
After relocating to KI Sawyer in 2018, she saw a resilient and creative community looking to make positive changes in spite of insufficient resources. The only local convenience/grocery store was stocked with overpriced shelf-stable food with little to no nutritional value making healthy eating difficult for those who lacked reliable transportation. From conversations with these community members about their needs and gardening, cooking, and healthy eating, she saw firsthand their interest in growing in their own knowledge and identifying resources to change their situation. Based on her own experience and inspiration from her community, education, and empowerment became the basis for the programming at LGKI.
The Seeds of an Idea
Prior to the pandemic, KI Sawyer was already struggling with limited access to nutritious food and was classified as a food desert. Food deserts are defined as areas with limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable, and/or nutritious. As the pandemic continued to strain national and global systems, Jordan took note of the frequently empty grocery store shelves, typically filled with imported goods, and intensifying concerns about food security. This was the moment Jordan reflected on the importance of local food systems. This revelation led her to research historical initiatives like Victory Gardens, a wartime campaign in which the US government encouraged families to grow their own food. The idea struck Jordan that this could be an answer to the food security need she saw in her own community and an opportunity to provide community education and empowerment. What better place to revive the spirit of the Victory Gardens Program than on a retired military base?
With minimal gardening experience, Jordan sought out knowledge by interning at Partridge Creek Farm in Ishpeming, where she learned about their highly successful community gardens and farm-to-school programs. Partridge Creek Farm served as a vital resource and introduced Jordan to organizations like MSU Extension, Transition Marquette, and Queen City Seed Library, who all helped in various ways to build the initial programming for LGKI. Accelerate UP
and Grow & Lead were also critical financial supporters, resources, and champions in the infancy of the organization.
Growing Together
In 2021, LGKI took its first steps by providing garden beds, soil, and tools to five families with young children looking to grow food at their residences. LGKI also organized workshops, fostering a sense of community and providing opportunities for knowledge-sharing. As interest grew, programming expanded to host larger educational events where community members were invited to learn about sustainable gardening.
By the end of 2022, LGKI had established a board and secured land from Marquette County to build a community garden, a crucial milestone for their mission. Grant funding from Superior Health Foundation, the Gwinn Area Community Fund (an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Marquette County), Daja View, and Zonta, allowed LGKI to build the community garden, invest in infrastructure, host workshops, expand programming, and cultivate the community’s
enthusiasm for growing food. At the end of 2023, LGKI introduced winter gardening through a partnership with Lucid Coast, which donated eight tower gardens to families at KI Sawyer. These vertical gardens allow families to grow fresh produce year-round, overcoming seasonal limitations.
Addressing Barriers
Despite their progress, LGKI has faced challenges. The process to apply for and receive a temporary food license, dictated by Michigan Food Law, has been a barrier to sharing food at community events in the past. LGKI would like to see policy changes to better support grassroots efforts toward food security that support food culture and events within communities. Additionally, stigmas surrounding food assistance programs can deter families from seeking help. LGKI strives to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their circumstances, and families feel empowered and equipped to provide for themselves. LGKI also hopes to see an increase in edible landscaping, further education in growing food at home, stronger connections between local farmers and families, increased access to community gardening, and additional policies to support these endeavors.
Dismantling Misconceptions
Part of LGKI’s mission is to dismantle the misconceptions that often surround food insecurity issues. In an era of increased costs for housing, transportation, and quality food, food insecurity does not pose a threat to only one demographic group. Food insecurity is faced by the employed and unemployed alike. Lack of access to nutritious and affordable food options as well as insufficient education in nutrition also results in increased rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This impacts individuals across all socioeconomic strata.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, LGKI’s dream is a self-sufficient community with abundant access to nutritious foods by 2030. They envision a future where communities can gather freely to share food and knowledge, cultivating a culture of support and self-sufficiency. To accomplish these broad-scale goals, they plan to expand gardening initiatives, add a farmer’s market, establish orchard spaces and edible landscaping, and develop a community center with a commercial kitchen. They hope this space will offer a location for workshops and skill-building, a place for community members interested in food production to start cottage businesses, and serve as a distribution location for community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Ultimately, they aim to develop a small farm to create jobs in agriculture while also providing the neighborhood with CSAs.
Their partnership with the Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health (NMUCRH) is vital to the mission and growth of the organization. Both organizations are collaboratively addressing the systemic issues that affect community health, recognizing that access to nutritious food is foundational to overall well-being. By increasing access to nutritious foods and providing essential resources, LGKI and NMUCRH are addressing social determinants of health and keeping our friends, families, and community healthier.
LGKI invites students and community members to engage with them through internships, volunteering, and fundraising efforts and looks forward to continuing to collaborate with NMUCRH to increase awareness, assist with connections, and encourage others to further engage in their work.
How You Can Help
If you are inspired by LGKI’s journey and want to contribute, they need volunteers to assist with manual labor, grant writing, and social media management. If you are interested in volunteering or supporting their mission in any way, you can connect with them via their social media platforms or email (letsgrowki@gmail.com or outreach@letsgrowki.org).
LGKI believes that with the right knowledge, resources, and community support, anyone can grow food. LGKI exists because of the combined knowledge, guidance, perspectives, expertise, and fiscal and moral support of the individuals and organizations who have been involved. They see it as their mission to pass this information on the best they can to whomever is interested, so that anyone can grow food, anywhere. Their story is one of resilience, empowerment, and the transformative power of gardening. With the community’s support, they are cultivating a brighter future for KI Sawyer—one garden at a time. Join them on this journey, and let’s grow together!
The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health seeks to improve the health and well-being of Upper Peninsula residents and communities by developing collaborative partnerships that enhance the access and availability of affordable, quality healthcare services. For questions or comments related to this story, contact ruralhealth@nmu.edu.