Maria Jones-Foster
Maria is a retired DPS school teacher that has lived in Detroit or Highland Park all her life. One of the best parts of moving to Highland Park as a youngster was having a family garden that was so bountiful that a passerby offered to buy the greens that they were growing. Maria began her relationship with urban agriculture in the early 2000s with a friend/coworker at a Detroit elementary school. Together, with the support of Keep Growing Detroit, they started a school garden that was loved by students and was a beautiful addition to the school’s playground. The students continued the school garden with her help until her retirement. She now cultivates vegetables and pollinator gardens at her home and rental property in Detroit. Maria received her BA from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Political Science and English. She then went on to receive a Masters in Teaching and Elementary Teaching Certification from Wayne State University.