our name. our story.
KIJANIPRINT MICROFARM carries two ideas that fit together with purpose. The first is Kijani, a Swahili word meaning green, speaking to growth, renewal, and what we cultivate. Print reflects the structure, signature, and intention in the way we work. When our logo came together, the green prints naturally formed a heart. They also read as green “thumb” prints, a nod to the hands-on growers who came before us. It reflects our approach. The heart symbolizes the quality and care at the core of our farm. That meaning carries through every tray and every label. From the beginning, the name was our green print, shaping how we show up for more than microgreens. It guides the way we work, grow, and care for our community.
The Detroit That Raised Us
Leilani grew up on the west side near Fenkell where she bought candy from Leddie’s and sold it to classmates at her academy near downtown Detroit. That early routine taught her timing and choice and how people respond to small decisions. Being at a school that brought together students from across the city exposed her to different home kitchens and food traditions which shaped her comfort talking with anyone about microgreens, whether familiar or new to them.
Belle Isle added a quieter influence. Mornings there with her grandmother taught her to watch light, water, and movement with steady attention. Those habits shaped her photography and now guide the clean, intentional presentations that represent the farm.
Cheryl’s memories include family gardens near Blaine on the west side and shelves of preserved jars inside the east side home she knew on Danbury. Years later she learned that the house had become a youth farm which felt natural for a place that always carried signs of care. That same steady approach shapes the structure she brings to KIJANIPRINT today.
Building the Farm and Where It’s Going
Farming made sense once we started. The curiosity began indoors with the first tray and the first clean cut. Creating packaging that matched the quality of the greens came naturally. Microgreens fit us. They grow fast, stay clean, and offer neighborhoods simple access to nutrient rich greens grown in a pesticide free environment, especially in areas with limited healthy grocery options.
Our growth has been supported by real community work. Through the Grown in Detroit farm stand at Eastern Market we learned the value of showing up consistently. Collaboration with Urban Bush Sistah’s Market Garden strengthened our connection to shared labor, land care, and Detroit’s grower network. Working with Friends of the Rouge deepened our understanding of how food, water, and local ecosystems support each other. These experiences shaped how we grow and how we show up for our community.
What Happens Next
KIJANIPRINT MICROFARM is entering a stage where direction matters. We know where we want to go and we are building the foundation to get there. Scaling our indoor production, expanding into greenhouse space, and developing pollinator and nature-based areas will take structure, capital, and collaboration. The work is already in motion. What we are building speaks to people who care about local food access, steady growth, and long-term community impact.
We also understand that long-term growth will take more than microgreens. As we scale, our work will expand into value added products and education spaces supported by stronger infrastructure. This includes building stormwater systems, creating pollinator gardens, establishing rain gardens, placing bee hives for habitat support, and developing small forest zones that improve air quality and soil health. Each piece works with the next. Together they create a farm that produces food, teaches environmental care, and strengthens the land it stands on.
We are open to support from those who see the value in what we are doing.