Michigan urban farming group in online contest for $40,000 prize

The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative is hoping to win a nationwide contest to aid in the building of a children's garden in Detroit.

The nonprofit entered a contest through Scotts Miracle-Gro to win $40,000 dollars to go toward the effort and for building renovations.

The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative uses agriculture as a platform to promote education, community and sustainability on Detroit's northwest side.

"Learning about agriculture early on is a really good platform for creating an informed public as far as the food system," said Tyson Gersh, the co-founder of the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative. "One of the core values of this non-profit is addressing food security built on education."

The GRO1000 People's Choice Community Garden Grant will be announced in mid-February.

Detroit is competing with New York, New York, Oakland, California and Orlando, Florida. As of publication of this story, Detroit is leading with 46 percent of the votes.

You can vote until Feb. 9 on Miracle-Gro's website by clicking here.