Help Secure Full Circle Edible Garden
Due to the overwhelming concern and offers of support after the recent thefts that occurred over fourth of July weekend at our Edible Garden, we are moving forward with our plans to finally secure the property. We are seeking donations to have fencing and security cameras professionally installed around the perimeter of the garden and Ribbon Farms 4-H Club chicken coop. This fencing, which in total extends over 200 feet by 65 feet, would contain two sides and be built upon the existing fencing to thereby enclose the garden. For over 10 years, our garden has been located at 18300 E. Warren, Detroit, MI 48224 on land graciously donated by Riverview Health & Rehab Center North. We have received permission from our Riverview partners to build fencing which will ensure the safety and security of our volunteers, program participants, Ribbon Farms 4-H Club partners and remaining surviving chickens, and protect our Edible Garden produce from thieves. Our garden is a true labor of love for the dedicated volunteers and the adults with disabilities in our TEAM 26 programs who work tirelessly to make every planting season a success. The garden produce is used in our summer programs and sold at our Full Circle Resale Shop. Those proceeds directly benefit our Edible Garden ensuring it can continue to grow and prosper for years to come. Our goal with this campaign is to raise enough funds to obtain professional fencing and additional security systems. Every contribution, big or small, brings us that much closer to reaching our goal.
Full Circle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. Donations made on this specific page will go directly towards our Edible Garden fencing and security system fundraiser. Any additional funds after our goal is met will be put towards an endowment, ensuring the maintenance and success of the Full Circle Edible Garden for years to come.
Backstory - What happened?
After discovering our Edible Garden was the target of several thefts over July 4th weekend, we took to Facebook with the following post:
"We are heartbroken to report that there were a string of thefts over 4th of July weekend at our Full Circle Foundation Edible Garden. These thefts were specifically targeting the chicken coop which was added last year thanks to our partnership with Ribbon Farms 4-H Club and several produce beds in our garden. In addition to the chickens that have peacefully existed on the property for over a year, in recent weeks Ribbon Farms 4-H Club added more crested chicken chicks, new mama and chicken eggs that were JUST starting to hatch over the weekend 😢, and even geese to signify a new season. On Friday, July 3rd, sometime after our beloved feathered friends were locked up for the evening, thieves broke into the chicken coop and stole some of the chickens. This was discovered the next morning and two newly hatched chicks were removed for their safety. Sadly and shockingly, the brazen thieves returned on Saturday July 4th and Sunday, July 5th, breaking into our locked coop again and slowly stole the remaining 20 chickens and geese. *TO BE CLEAR: WE ARE POSITIVE THEIR DISAPPEARANCE WAS NOT DUE TO AN ANIMAL ATTACK.* Sadly, someone also stripped several garden beds clear of produce we were preparing to pick. Unfortunately, we do not have any footage of this. Full Circle Foundation is a certified nonprofit that serves young adults with special needs. For years our learning garden has played a pivotal role in our summer program where these individuals visit, tend to and can even work. All produce in our garden is used in our summer program for those young adults with special needs, sold to produce subscribers in our community, as well as sold at a discounted rate at our Resale Shop. Any money made all goes back to our nonprofit. Our volunteer run garden and our Ribbon Farms 4-H chicken coop are located at 18300 E. Warren in Detroit on land donated by Riverview Health and Rehab North. We have several posted signs throughout the property stating it is a private garden for our nonprofit. If you have any information about these crimes, please contact Full Circle at 313-469-6660. Please share this post to spread the word, Full Circle and our Ribbon Farms 4-H partners are absolutely devastated for our feathered friends and just want their safe return. 😔💔"
The Aftermath
Our Facebook post was shared dozens of times and our story was picked up by Channel 4 WDIV News and Channel 7 WXYZ News stations. Thankfully, due to the media coverage a citizen who found the chickens being held at one of her vacant properties recognized the story and contacted us. Our garden produce was never recovered and sadly, seven members of the flock perished due to this preventable tragedy. The suspects who stole the chickens remain at large.
It was ultimately decided that in order to protect our garden produce and our Ribbon Farms 4-H Club partnered chickens, volunteers and program members, we would need to invest in better security measures. No matter the size of your contribution, every little bit helps in reaching our goal. Thank you!
Full Circle Edible Garden, Ribbon Farms 4-H Club Chickens, Rescue and Recovery
