Active Organics

05/06/2026

IT’S OFFICIAL - THE SOUTH WARREN COMMUNITY GARDEN IS HERE TO STAY

Warren, MI - April 29, 2026 - Urban Seed is proud to announce that the Warren City Council has unanimously approved a 10-year lease for the South Warren Community Garden at 13690 Toepfer Avenue. This is a milestone that belongs to this community as much as it belongs to us.

When more than 130 residents came together and used their voices to support positive change in their neighborhood, city council listened. This is the second time council has stepped in to ensure this garden had a foundation to build from - and this time, it’s on solid ground. The approved lease gives Urban Seed the long-term security to grow, invest, and serve. It includes a 12-month notice period before any early termination by the city, and replaces the restrictive language of the previous operating agreement with a fair, practical framework.

We are deeply grateful to Council Member Henry Newnan and Council President Angela Rogensues, who championed this effort from the very beginning. A special thank you goes to Council Member Jonathan Lafferty, Council Secretary Mindy Moore, and City Council Attorney Jeffrey Schroder, who gave up most of their Sunday to work through this with us and find a solution that was a genuine win for everyone at the table. And to Council Member Gary Boike - the garden sits in his district, and he showed up for his constituents.

We also want to thank Council Members Assistant Secretary-Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Dwyer and Council Vice President Melody Magee for their votes and their support. A unanimous decision means every council member chose to stand behind the residents of South Warren, and that matters.

To every resident who sent an email, spoke at a council meeting, or simply told a neighbor this garden was worth fighting for - you were heard.

Less than 24 hours later, we are already moving forward. Expansion of the garden is underway, and we are looking for people who want to be part of shaping what this space becomes over the next decade. Gardeners, master gardeners, neighbors who just want a say in what grows here, people with backgrounds in carpentry or building - there is a place for you here.

Come celebrate with us.

COMMUNITY DAY AT THE SOUTH WARREN COMMUNITY GARDEN
Sunday, May 10th at Noon
13690 Toepfer Avenue, Warren, MI 48089

Grab mom, come see the space, meet your neighbors, and be part of what comes next. All are welcome.

About Urban Seed
Urban Seed is a Michigan nonprofit organization dedicated to growing food, preserving green space, and cultivating resilience in the communities we serve.

05/06/2026

When we say our potting mix is premium we really mean that it is the absolute best around. The ingredients speak for themselves:

Worm Castings
Compost
Sphagnum Peat Moss
Perlite
Down to Earth Bio-Live
MIgardener Trifecta+
Kelp
Alfalfa
Gypsum
Basalt Rock Dust
Wollastonite
Magnesium Sulfate
Olivine Rock Dust
Azomite
Montana Grow Silica
Ferti-Fulvic acid

All naturally-mined and cleanly sourced!

04/07/2026

This is what drives us!

One inch of compost spread on top of dead soil triggers a 30-day biological cascade that no fertilizer bag can replicate — because fertilizer feeds plants while compost feeds the organisms that build the system plants depend on.

Day 1, nothing visible changes. Day 7, earthworms from the subsoil detect the organic matter and begin migrating upward. Day 14, fungal threads from the compost layer extend downward into the dead soil, creating the first nutrient transport channels. Day 21, bacterial populations have doubled and the soil beneath the compost is measurably darker, softer, and holds water longer.

Day 30, the dead soil and the compost layer are no longer distinguishable. They merged. You didn't fix the soil. You restarted its biology.

04/06/2026

Start off your 2026 grow season right with our Bulk Compost! Call 810-892-0023 to set up an appointment

04/01/2026

Speaking our language

🌷 Oakland Gardener Newsletter: March Articles You'll Love
🌿 Planting for Prevention and Long-Term Health – How preparing and working in the garden can support your overall health and wellness.
Article and Photo by: Sophia Speroff
Read more: https://conta.cc/4cvsIVn
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🌷.......March - Gardening for Health & Wellness......Read Below!
As gardeners, we know spring preparation sets the tone for the entire growing season. The choices we make now — what we plant, how we prepare the soil, and how we care for our bodies — influence our harvest months down the road. The same principle applies to health. As both a Master Gardener and a Registered Dietitian, I often remind people that spring gardening isn’t just about food production; it’s about planting habits that support long-term disease prevention. A garden rich in vegetables, fruits, herbs, and legumes naturally aligns with evidence-based nutrition strategies shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and inflammation-related conditions.

Gardening and Diabetes Prevention

Dietary patterns high in fiber, vegetables, and whole foods are strongly associated with improved blood sugar control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Gardening supports this by increasing access to non-starchy vegetables like leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, beans, and squash.

These foods slow digestion, reduce blood sugar spikes, and improve insulin sensitivity. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that even modest increases in vegetable intake can improve glycemic control. When gardeners grow their own produce, they’re also more likely to cook at home and reduce reliance on processed foods — another protective factor for diabetes prevention.

Spring planting of greens, peas, onions, and herbs creates early access to these blood-sugar-friendly foods and helps establish healthier eating routines before summer.

Heart Health Starts in the Garden

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., yet many risk factors are strongly influenced by diet and lifestyle. Gardens naturally promote heart-healthy eating patterns by emphasizing vegetables, fruits, legumes, and unsaturated fats.

Foods commonly grown in home gardens — tomatoes, leafy greens, beans, herbs, berries, and squash — are rich in potassium, fiber, antioxidants, and plant compounds that support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, and parsley allow gardeners to flavor meals without excess sodium, supporting hypertension management. Gardening itself also contributes to cardiovascular health. Light to moderate physical activity, stress reduction, and time outdoors all support heart health, especially when practiced consistently throughout the growing season.

Bone Health and Aging Well

Bone health often receives less attention until problems arise, but spring gardening is an excellent opportunity to support skeletal strength. Vegetables like kale, collards, broccoli, and Swiss chard provide vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients essential for bone maintenance.

Weight-bearing garden activities — digging, lifting, squatting, and carrying — help stimulate bone formation and maintain muscle strength, which reduces fall and fracture risk as we age. Gardening offers functional movement that supports both bone density and balance, particularly important for older adults.

Reducing Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation plays a role in heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and many other conditions. Diets rich in colorful plant foods are consistently associated with lower inflammation markers.

Garden foods such as berries, tomatoes, leafy greens, garlic, onions, and herbs contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that help counteract oxidative stress. Growing these foods encourages regular intake and variety, both of which are key to inflammation reduction. In addition, the calming nature of gardening lowers stress hormones, which can otherwise contribute to inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

Planting for Prevention

Spring gardening is more than seasonal work — it’s an investment in long-term health. By choosing to plant a diverse, nutrient-rich garden, you’re laying the groundwork for improved blood sugar control, stronger bones, a healthier heart, and reduced inflammation.

As you prep your beds this March, remember: every seed planted is also a step toward prevention. The habits you cultivate now — in the soil and on your plate — can nourish your health for years to come.

04/01/2026

Real recognize real. All we need is our castings though!

03/26/2026

Soil texture is everything. We did a soil texture test and the results were very telling. It helped us dial in our most successful soil; the final recipe!

Wrong soil, wasted seeds. Every soil type has crops that thrive in it and crops that fail in it. Match them and everything gets easier.

Grab a handful from your garden and squeeze it. What you feel tells you what to plant.

🌱 Six soil types and what grows in each:

- Sandy soil — pale, gritty, runs through your fingers. Drains fast and warms up early in spring. Carrots grow straight, radishes size up quickly, potatoes stay disease-free, lavender and rosemary love the drainage. But lettuce, cabbage, and celery dry out before they can size up. If you're fighting to keep leafy greens alive in sand, the soil is the problem

- Clay soil — heavy, sticky, clumps into a ball. Holds moisture and nutrients longer than any other type, which is exactly what heavy feeders need. Cabbage, broccoli, beans, and squash thrive. But carrots fork when they hit resistance and Mediterranean herbs rot in the slow drainage. If your rosemary keeps dying, test your soil before blaming yourself

- Loam — dark, crumbly, holds shape but breaks apart easily. Balanced drainage, balanced nutrients, balanced moisture. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, roses — almost everything performs in loam. The only soil type where plant anything is close to true

- Chalky soil — pale with white calcium fragments. Naturally alkaline, which locks out iron and makes acid-loving plants yellow and stunted. Blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons struggle here. But lavender, lilac, clematis, spinach, and beets handle alkalinity well

- Peaty soil — dark, fibrous, spongy. Holds enormous amounts of water and runs naturally acidic. Blueberries and azaleas thrive without any amendment. Potatoes and celery love the moisture. But anything that needs sharp drainage drowns in it

- Silty soil — smooth, fine-grained, almost silky between your fingers. Nutrient-rich and moisture-retentive. Most vegetables and fruit trees perform well. The one risk is compaction — silt particles pack tight when wet. Add compost annually and avoid walking on the bed after rain

🌱 The quick test:

- Squeeze a damp handful. If it runs through your fingers — sandy. If it forms a tight sticky ball — clay. If it holds shape but crumbles when you poke it — loam
- Pale soil with white fragments that fizz when you add vinegar — chalky
- Dark spongy soil that squeezes water out like a sponge — peaty
- Smooth and silky with no grit — silty
- Once you know what you have, plant what matches it instead of fighting what doesn't. The crops that suit your soil outperform anything you force into the wrong type

That handful tells you what to plant and what to stop wasting money on 🌿

03/26/2026

We love the MSU Extension Master Gardener Program! If you were lucky enough to register for the 2026 Smart Gardening Conference, you will likely receive free products from Active Organics!

03/26/2026