Monday, 27 August. Growing Power Inc. Milwaukee, WI

Growing Power Inc, is a non profit organization whose goal is to provide fresh, affordable food in low income neighbourhoods.  They manage over 200 acres of garden plots around the city of Milwaukee, many of which are within city limits.    They provide training, demonstration and technical assistance to help establish Community Food Systems which help people grow, market and distribute food.

  We visited their greenhouses and store on Silver Springs Dr. in Milwaukee which is a prototype for a Community Food System.  Sustainable production is a big focus of Growing Power.  Solar panels provide power for the complex, and compost is their main growing media.  Waste food is provided by businesses in the city, which is vermi-composed on site and used to produce vegetable greens, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, beets, cucumbers, melons and herbs.  Rainwater is collected in tanks which are stocked with talapia and perch; this water is used to water some of their crops (aquaponics).