The Innovator: Our Very own Will Allen

If you live in Milwaukee, or Wisconsin for that matter, and care about the future of our food, you should know the man pictured above.  Some of you may, but for others I've prepared an introduction.  His name is Will Allen.  In 1993 he began Growing Power, a non-profit urban farm in the heart of Milwaukee, with a goal to grow food, minds, and community.  Over the past 17 years it has accomplished that and so much more.  


Growing Power specializes in aquaponics (how Sweet Water Organics got its start) and vermiculture (composting with worms).  It also serves as a community educational facility offering daily public tours and monthly weekend workshops showcasing techniques from composting to greenhouse production.  Over the past few years Will (we're on a first name basis) has been recognized nationally as an innovative thinker who strives to educate people on the importance of the "Good Food" movement.  As a 2008 MacArthur Fellow, he is also considered the voice of urban farming.  The NYT did an amazing article on him back in July called Street Farmer.  Here's the link if you'd like to read it...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/magazine/05allen-t.html?_r=1. 


Get to know this farming Giant.  He's worth his weight in gold!

Sweet Water's $5 Perch! On sale tomorrow!

I took the information below straight from their blog...click the name to get to the site.

Sweet Water Organics "Located in Bayview at 2151 S. Robinson Ave, Milwaukee, WI  Google Map, Sweet Water Organics is the first major commercial upgrading of MacArthur genius Will Allen’s aquaculture methodologies, i.e. a three-tiered, aquaponic, bio-intensive fish-vegetable garden. Sweet Water is the anchor project in the  transformation of a massive industrial building in an “industrial slum” into a show-case of the potential of living technologies and high-value added urban agriculture.  Sweet Water’s sustainable aquaculture system harvests urban waste streams, e.g. wood chips, cardboard, veggie residues, coffee grounds, and brewers mash, along vermiculture lines, yielding the richest possible soil.  This soil in hundreds of potted plants on the simulated wetland tiers is key to the transformation of fish wastes into natural nitrate for plant growth and water filtration.  The fish nourish the plants.  The plants clean the water, and, in the case of tilapia, feed the fish. 
Sweet Water hopes to derive income from the sale of:  fish;  micro greens and cereal grains, including wheat grass; worms; worm castings; and compost.  Other income streams will include tours, events, training, and installation of aquaculture systems."