Sanctuary Farms was featured in a national spotlight on the power of urban agriculture to heal land, honor legacy, and drive environmental justice. As part of Detroit’s vibrant farming community, Sanctuary Farms advocates for regenerative practices like composting, agroforestry, and permaculture to reclaim contaminated land and build resilient food systems. The article highlights the urgent need for Congress to fully fund the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, amplifying the voices of nearly 200 farmers and organizations calling for federal investment in sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Sanctuary Farms is proud to help lead Detroit’s composting movement as part of the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project—a new pilot launching this summer to expand equitable access to composting. Alongside six local organizations, we’ll support 200 residents with materials, training, and stipends to turn food waste into “Black Gold.” At the same time, the City of Detroit is rolling out a complementary composting program with a free drop-off site and digester system. Together, these efforts aim to reduce landfill waste and move Detroit closer to Michigan’s goal of diverting 50% of food waste by 2030.

At the recent MI Healthy Climate conference in Detroit, it was announced that the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project (DCCCP)—a grassroots coalition including Sanctuary Farms, Detroit Black Food Sovereignty Network, Sacred Spaces, and others—is launching a community composting pilot for 200 participants. Supported by Industrious Labs, the project is part of a broader push to reduce food waste and invest in climate solutions, alongside over $1 million in state funding for composting initiatives across the city.

Sanctuary Farms is proud to be a founding member of the Detroit Community Compost Collection Project (DCCCP)—a new pilot launching this year to support 200 Detroiters in backyard and community composting. Backed by state funding and a grant from Industrious Labs, the project aims to fight food waste, improve soil health, and build a more just and sustainable food system across the city.

In "Compostable food packaging in Detroit often ends up in landfills. Here’s why," BridgeDetroit explores the challenges facing compostable packaging in a city without robust composting infrastructure. Amid efforts by local cafes to switch to sustainable materials, Sanctuary Farms co-founder jøn kent offers a critical perspective, questioning the long-term viability of compostable plastics and highlighting concerns about PFAS contamination. Instead of relying on single-use alternatives, jøn advocates for deeper systems change—prioritizing reuse, education, and community-led composting models that restore soil and center environmental justice.

On The Metro, local leaders discussed composting solutions across the region—including a shoutout to Sanctuary Farms on Detroit’s east side. As a community hub for sustainable practices, Sanctuary Farms is helping lead the charge in reducing food waste and enriching local soil through composting.

At GreenBiz 2025 in Phoenix, the Emerging Leaders cohort—featuring Sanctuary Farms co-founder Jøn Kent—came together to tackle today’s most pressing sustainability challenges. This next generation of changemakers is breaking through institutional silos, translating bold ideas into action, and redefining leadership with resilience, collaboration, and purpose.

The Equity and Access Design Lab series, facilitated by the Michigan Local Food Council Network, convened food and farming leaders to practice collaborative leadership focused on amplifying collective power across communities of color.

A new survey shows that 86% of US farmers under 40 practice regenerative agriculture. But many — especially farmers of color — struggle to access land and capital.

Detroit's first National Urban Agriculture Conference spotlighted urban farming but raised concerns over the USDA's Detroit office being located in Ann Arbor, leading to director Jamal Thomas' resignation. Local farmers, including Sanctuary Farms' Jon Kent, struggled to connect with the office. The event emphasized Detroit's leadership in urban agriculture.

MDARD hosted a roundtable to introduce the $3 million "Farm to Family" program under Governor Whitmer's bipartisan budget. The initiative aims to boost Michigan’s food supply chains, support local farmers, and expand access to healthy, locally grown food across the state.

The nonprofit composting service Scrap Soils is testing the effectiveness of using an autonomous robot to transport food to be composted.

Calls for Holistic Environmental Justice and a Shift Away from Societal Dependence on Petrochemical Pesticides and Fertilizers

Videos include farmer SARE grant projects, farmer wellness, farm to school, agritourism, small-scale livestock and more.

Numerous urban farms and gardens in Detroit host volunteers to assist with tasks from weeding to harvesting to maintenance.

The initiative to build solar farms on vacant land in blighted neighborhoods has been met with both skepticism and enthusiasm from residents living near nine competing sites

Sanctuary Farms, a small organic farm and composter on Detroit’s east side, has installed solar powered air monitors on their property in response to the 200,000-plus pounds of toxic chemicals the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the auto company releases each year, Bridge Detroit reports.

Sanctuary Farms installed a solar-powered air monitor to track pollution from the nearby Stellantis auto plant. Partnering with the Ecology Center, they aim to empower residents with real-time air quality data and address environmental injustices.