Ed Morrison · Urban farming in NEO

February 20th, 2010

In Pittsburgh, Youngstown and Cleveland, gardening and urban farming are vital parts of revitalization plans — and Akron isn’t far behind. Grow Pittsburgh promotes local, urban food through farmer education, school gardening and a host of other projects….

The energy behind urban agriculture is also high in Youngstown, a city that has seen its share of economic distress, foreclosures and vacant property. In addition to developing community and for-profit urban farms, local food advocates in Youngstown are working to develop a commercial kitchen in the city, a space that would allow small-scale producers and farmers to process fresh produce into salsa or jam, for example.

Last fall, nationally recognized urban farmer and local foods advocate Will Allen of Milwaukee visited Youngstown to inspire and inform current and prospective urban farmers. Allen is best known for his work with Growing Power Inc., an urban farming organization he developed in 1993 to link Milwaukee teens with growing opportunities.

Growing Power now operates many urban and rural farm projects in Wisconsin and Illinois, with a focus on Milwaukee and Chicago.

In July, Allen was in Cleveland to inspire teachers and youth advocates at the National Gardening Association’s youth gardening conference, sharing stories about his work to bring youth in touch with food and land. Participants from across the state and the country left inspired and invigorated, full of ideas to help youth learn to grow.

Urban farm movement is taking root in Akron

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