On rooftops, in empty lots and along sidewalks, urban communities are becoming increasingly passionate about farming within their own neighborhoods. Fueled by passionate individuals in pursuit of securing access to nutritious and affordable meals, growing interest in urban agriculture is taking place in and around cities throughout the world.

In response to a growing disconnect between people, the source of their food and the availability of affordable and healthy produce, community food systems (CFS) are emerging with great momentum in urban areas. Through striving to provide strength and balance to the environmental, economic and social health of urban communities, community food systems represent an exciting opportunity to bring forth leadership, form coalitions and provide food security to underserved populations.

Will Allen, head of the Milwaukee-based, national non-profit organization Growing Power, is using urban food as a tool for empowering low-income communities through developing community food systems that nourish urban citizens in the US and abroad. Growing Power has created an extensive network of teaching farms that grow vegetables, raise fish, poultry and honeybees while also providing jobs and skills development trainings to the local community. Growing Power is a scalable program that leverages replicable techniques that can be implemented across regions, which enables the network of farms to expand. Through an open-source approach to information sharing and technology transfer, Allen’s vision is that through expanding the network of urban agricultural activities, Growing Power will combat obesity, diabetes and malnutrition, which directly impact the lives of the poor.

Strengthening relationships between community members and the source of their food has enabled Growing Power to have a big impact on the health of their local community. Allen’s Milwaukee farm alone currently serves over 50 local restaurants, designs sustainable food cafeteria programs for local schools and businesses and they also provide affordable, healthy food to more than 10,000 low-income families.

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2. Find a local farm and farmer’s market
3. Ask our representative to keep genetic engineering out of food legislation
4. Start your own urban garden