Urban Farmer Wins Genius Grant

By Vanessa Richins

An agricultural oasis is nestled on two acres in Milwaukee.

The land holds 6 greenhouses, 8 hoophouses, goats, ducks and turkeys, beehives, a chicken coop, perch and tilapia, and a worm composting station.

They also have facilities that study how to use food waste to produce fertilizers and methane gas (for energy)

This is the dream of Will Allen, founder of Growing Power.

In the middle of one of Milwaukee’s poorest neighborhoods, he has managed, with the help of his staff of 3 dozen and 2000 local residents, to produce $500,000 worth of produce, meat and fish.

With the new grant of $500,000 Read the rest of this entry »