14 | JUNE 16 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

been thousands of hurdles I’ve had to 
overcome for my business,” Bronfin said. 
“
According to the cottage laws, I can’t work 
when my daughter is home, which can be 
hard.” 
Because she keeps Shabbat, she’s unable 
to participate at many local craft and 
maker shows as a vendor, most of which 
take place on Saturday. 

A FAMILY ENDEAVOR
Bronfin moved to Detroit after meeting 
her husband, Moshe, online. Her garden-
ing is a family affair with their daughter 
pitching in with watering, especially 
for her own darling little garden. Eliana 

Rivka grows and sells her own corn, 
cucumbers, herbs, marigold, sunflowers 
and tomatoes. 
“Eliana Rivka is the biggest inspiration 
for my business. Without her, I probably 
would not have started on this journey,” 
Bronfin said. 
The Bronfins also have an invit-
ing-looking Little Free Library in the 
front yard.
“
About three years ago, we put out 
small bins with books in them,” Bronfin 
said. Again, it was during the pandemic 
that their idea expanded. “In 2020, we 
hand-built a wooden house for the adult 
books and bought a smaller one for kids. 

It was a hit with the neighbors, especially 
when the libraries were closed.”
In keeping with her outdoorsy spirit 
and passion for planting, Bronfin also 
keeps a mini seed library along with the 
books. 
“We have tons of seeds and everyone’s 
more than welcome to come and take. 
People always enjoy getting new books, 
but they love checking out the seeds and 
deciding what to try planting,” she said. 
The seed library has been especially 
popular with teachers and people who 
have never gardened before but are will-
ing to try something new if it’s free. 
Best of all, according to Bronfin, are the 

continued from page 13

Melina Bronfin and daughter 
Eliana Rivka enjoy some fun and 
learning in the garden.

continued on page 16

For further details, contact the ORT office at:

248-723-8860 michigan@ortamerica.org www.ortamerica.org/rub-a-dub

Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.

M1 Concourse
Pontiac, MI

Brian Hermelin

RUB-A-DUB 2022

honoring

AD BOOK & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please help us honor

Brian Hermelin

for his outstanding commitment to ORT and his devoted service to the Rub-a-Dub Fundraiser

SAVE THE DATE

by placing an ad in the Rub-a-Dub Ad Journal or by serving as an Event Sponsor.

An event to benefit

AD DEADLINE: JULY 29
TH

