{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Fa0be721d-9b0c-4243-81b2-20e32fc36a2a","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Cultivating Soil, Cultivating Souls","description":"Since 1998, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen's Earthworks Urban Farm has been an oasis in the midst of Detroit's food desert\r\n\n\nShow notes:\r\n\n(0:06) The narrator talks about the history of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen\u2019s Earthworks Urban Farm, which was started in 1998 by Bro. Rick Samyn, OFM Cap., to provide Detroiters fresh food, a sense of purpose and a chance to cultivate the earth in the heart of the city.\r\n\n\n(2:12) Wendy Casey, Earthworks\u2019 director, talks about the farm\u2019s mission, which includes a greenhouse, almost an acre of growing space, compost and educational programs, all of which benefit the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. \r\n\n\n(3:30) Bro. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap., the soup kitchen\u2019s director, discusses the origins of the idea behind the farm, which produces more than 8,000 pounds of food each year. Bro. Wegner talks about how the farm follows the example of the Capuchins\u2019 founder, St. Francis of Assisi.\r\n\n\n(5:56) Tyler Chatman, the farm manager, talks about Earthworks\u2019 robust volunteer program, Earthworks Agriculture Training \u2014 or EAT, for short. The program trains up to 10 people each year with the skills they need to cultivate the land. One of EAT\u2019s first students was Casey, Earthworks\u2019 current director.\r\n\n\n(9:23) Chatman talks about growing up on the farm. He first experienced Earthworks as a 6-year-old, and has been volunteering for the past 20 years. According to Chatman, it helped keep him out of trouble.\r\n\n\n(11:37) Chatman discusses Earthworks\u2019 \u201copen door policy,\u201d saying the farm embraces passersby who happen to stop by. Often, these passersby become volunteers themselves, Chatman says, inspired by the little miracle of growth happening on Detroit\u2019s east side.\r\n\n\n(15:05) Casey and Bro. Wegner talk about how Earthworks is a metaphor for Detroit\u2019s resilience. Since its heyday in the 1960s, Detroit\u2019s sprawling urban landscape with 2 million people has been reduced to just over 600,000, meaning the city is replete with empty lots and tons of potential.\r\n\n\nReporting by Daniel Meloy; narration by Emily Mentock; script by Casey McCorry; production by Ron Pangborn\r\n\n\nThis episode is brought to you by Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Does your bank make you feel like you belong there? At Alliance Catholic Credit Union, you\u2019re a member of a financial institution that serves the Catholic community, providing you with an opportunity to align your banking with your Catholic identity. You receive all the products and services you need to manage your money, and your membership helps support Catholic schools, parishes and organizations. It\u2019s time to put your money where your faith is. Visit https://allianceccu.com/ (alliancecatholic.com) to get started today. Service. Community. Catholic. Alliance Catholic Credit Union. Federally insured by the NCUA.\r\n\n\nListen to \u2018Detroit Stories\u2019 on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Fireside. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/ffb350e9-5647-48ec-bd90-6a6b62620532/cover.jpg"}