ROI Urban Farms

06/10/2026

First harvest of the season!

06/06/2026

Two days ago, I witnessed another storm-swarm like cloud emanating from our Southern Hive and thought to myself, no way that this can be another swarm? I don’t know about the rest of the world, but 5 swarms in under a Calander year from 2-hives with a 100% Hive survival overwinter-rate looks like a surefire way to quantify “Health and Vitality” to me! It’s June 6th and we still have 6 more days to go until the “full calendar year” on June 12th.

Stephaney the Bee lady and I have been debating how many hives is too many for the Homestand Farm, (the City of Detroit suggest only 4)? The question is where to send the new colony/why “capture” them at all? Where is a place that is Chemical Free yet alone Biodynamic-Regenerative Organic in Metro Detroit for Bee Hives? I suggested to Stephany that perhaps is like a concentric ripple in a pond after you toss a stone in. The reaction traveling out uniformly in all directions? So, what to do with this latest gift of Bee-Queen Creation?

I believe that is just that Organic-Amazing-Place, (just 1 of the reasons why I designed and planted the Apple Orchards in 2012), so maybe instead of "capturing the swarm", we simply let them extend out into Mother Nature’s Divne-Design? Stephaney pointed out that Bee keeping in Urban Areas require that the keepers to be mindful of others and remove swarms from a nearby city sidewalks to prevent a "bad public experience", giving Beekeepers a Bad Name. The same safety type thoughts crossed my mind earlier in the day, as the Pear trees are just 4’ away from the adjacent city sidewalk. 15 min. before Stephany was to arrive this morning, I ducked out for an errand run, when I came out of the garage and down to the end of the drive at the same exact time of another vortices spiral of flight, occurred once again. It seems that the Bees are transparently connected/included in all of our discussions and simply decided to take flight into Plamer Park.

Bees Bee Like…….

05/27/2026

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to see our 2nd swarm of this Spring, and our 4th swarm in under a Calander year, ( # 1 was June 12th, 2025). Health and Vitality is shown in the reproduction capability of this species. Not only did both Hives make it through the winter they both have given 2-more colonies to the Kingdom of Nature.

In Bee's Bee Like....

05/18/2026

In complete Harmony with the New Moons arrival in early today/Sunday Morning at 1:37 AM we completed all of our transplanting and gave away the remaining monstrous Tomato plants to friends and family. For me, today was filled with marvel and awe as I had the chance to be very close to our 3-Bee hives. The activity was breathtaking, many of our friends came by to say hi and give me a gentle bump, or land to stop and visit for a while. To the uninitiated that may be fearful, take a deep breath, feel good and never, never, start moving your hands around in a swatting type fashion, they do not like that! Even the farm dog Ajax’s has learned to stop chomping at them and let them visit and live here with us in peace.

05/13/2026

As the Waxing Moon rode down and in front of an element of Fire = Fruit this morning at 5:41 AM Eastern Standard Farming Time, just 5 days shy of the New Moon arriving in on May 17th at 1:37 AM, we decided it was time to Plant the vegetable plots at
Last year’s strawberries are booming at the sidewalk along with all of the Raspberry’s, Sage and Chamomile. Even the assorted fruit trees are heavily laden with swelling spheres. Young master Michelle Burda took the lead with today’s efforts. Young Clarence Danzy joined our team earlier this year, a dedicated Detroit Native with 5 years hands on experience in community green space stewardship, urban horticulture and sustainable land management, was super excited to work in a greenspace that he had read so much about. Clarence did a quick cultivation/turn of soil on all the plots while Michelle trimmed the lower branches off the Tomato plants, most of which already have fruit showing. The Leek’s, Carrots and Peppers were soon to follow being transplanted along with the spearmint that was used to fill the half barrels in the center of the courtyard.
That’s what’s up^

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

04/30/2026

no , no , no
no microplastics floating in the air.

Before Mercury went Retro grade,
&
Heirloom open pollinated,
Outdoor for weeks.

04/18/2026

In Perfect Harmony with the New Moons arrival here in yesterday April 17th @ 5:28 PM E.S.F.T., (Eastern Standard Farming Time “daylight”-that) our Spiritual Based Detroit farming Practice continues. Young Master Michelle Burda lead the charge for transplanting of the early Leeks, Jalapenos, Bell Peppers and Spearmint that will heading over to to fill in the garden plots, sometime in the beginning of May, My focus was planting the acclimated starts into our new Bio-intensive raised beds, filling our spray tank with purified water and then setting about the task of Mixing Preparation #500. After an hour of rotating the vortices spirals in opposing direction, I poured it into our spray tank, agitating it for another hour prior to Michelle Applying it everywhere.
The practice continues………