More than 20 years ago, Will Allen began farming on his first plot of land in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now, Allen is the founder and CEO of Growing Power, a non-profit urban farming foundation with two farms totaling 140 acres of land. Allen urged a large crowd in the Roland Hayes Auditorium to take on their own urban farming projects.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThe good food movement is no longer a movement. It\u2019s now a revolution. There hasn\u2019t been a better time than right now to start,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Allen, who bought the last remaining farm in the city of Milwaukee in 1993, now grows thousands of pounds of food year-round to feed the surrounding under-served, urban population. His farms provide the only healthy food in a 3.5-mile radius. \u00a0Growing Power also provides 15 produce stands throughout Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone deserves access to good, locally grown, organic produce. It\u2019s food you can trust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This past year, Growing Power has hosted more than 20,000 people and trained 15,000 farmers who have come to visit the organization and take workshops on community food systems, aquaponics, composting, and vermiculture. Growing Power also partners with other organizations in the city, including a firehouse and cemetery to build urban gardens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve made tremendous progress in having people see the first line of defense against disease is the food we put into our bellies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Growing Power is focused on educating youth with workshops and internships. According to Allen, the hands-on education children receive at Growing Power often leads to better grades in school and scholarships for college.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething changes when you put 200 worms into a child\u2019s hands. At first, they\u2019re scared, but then they want to learn,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Allen is also focused on sustainability. A quarter of the farms\u2019 electricity is powered by solar energy, and a water catchment system is in place to reuse water.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t do this without renewable energy. A sustainable food system is the only way we\u2019re going to end hunger in the world,\u201d Allen said.<\/p>\n
Allen had simple advice for those who want to start their own urban farms and gardens.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to get the politicians and corporations on board. Farmers aren\u2019t typically good at promoting their work. So don\u2019t go to them empty-handed. Show them the effects of all the good you can do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
More than 20 years ago, Will Allen began farming on his first plot of land in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now, Allen is the founder and CEO of Growing Power, a non-profit urban farming foundation with two farms totaling 140 acres of land. Allen urged a large crowd in the Roland Hayes Auditorium to take on their… <\/p>\n