green living: will allen.
The words INNER CITY and FRESH PRODUCE usually don’t go hand in hand cause the sad truth is that no one cares expects the ghetto to eat well. And by well I mean food that’ll make your colon love you. Food Activism isn’t for the faint of heart cause it always seems like one of those larger than life uphill battles that’ll have you exasperated and chasing your own tail. You’ll want to give up before you even start. So while most of us say *expletive* effort, the 6 foot 7 Will Allen took it upon himself to spread the urban gospel and transform a Milwaukee Ghetto into an oasis of compost ingenious by founding Growing Powers INC. It’s his own personal “Eden” for a community that many have completely written off and given the ole casket toss (Thanks Fresh..) Since Growing Powers inception Mr. Allen and his ginormous hands have gone on to making Urban Farming a reality that has proven to be quite successful. All it takes is one person to have the belief that things can be done in a different way.
Posted by gt on July 6, 2009
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jaye — July 6, 2009 @ 5:17 am
Eating right needs to be a RIGHT. I take my food so seriously…even my junk food has to be good quality.
I was reading an old issue of Oprah’s magazine, and there was this chef talking about a lot of stand-by comfort foods that can take a toll on your health, and he was saying that those foods can be done in a healthy but delicious way, that you can get the same texture and savoriness without the butter and the fat. But that it takes more expensive ingredients and it takes inventiveness…we use butter and trans-fats because they’re cheap and easily available. But just look at the cost organic veggies…as more people have demanded that our food not be sprayed with POISONS, the price has gone down and it’s available in more places. If we don’t demand it or expect that we deserve it, we’ll just keep stuffing crap into our bodies.
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gt — July 6, 2009 @ 10:57 am
I feel your passion jaye…
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kristine — July 6, 2009 @ 11:27 am
“All it takes is one person to have the belief that things can be done in a different way.”
That remark really resonates with me today. I think we often step back and give up on something if it means that we have to be the first to step out and go against the grain.
Yet, if we don’t act, who will?
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Simone — July 6, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
I’ve begun to take quite an interest in urban gardens, food justice and the locavore movement of supporting local growers. I’m pondering ways in which I can get involved.
It’s a doggone shame that in a country so rich, we have to even think about “food justice”. It seems to be the only way that folks in the hood and poorer communities will have access to healthy eating.
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Alicia — July 6, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
If more communities did this, the benefits would extend far beyond eating well. I mean, natural food diversity, local fare, local economies, health, and more would benefit tremendously.
I wish more would get up on this.
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Gem — July 6, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
“All it takes is one person to have the belief that things can be done in a different way.”
Love that. Especially if they act on the belief. I was just talking (tweeting?) to a friend about how eating good and healthy can cost more than eating unhealthy foods/drinking drinks. Sigh. But you cannot deny the difference in the way your body feels. Many kudos to Will. I hope he gets the support he needs.
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TJ — July 6, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
I saw this article Sunday. What an inspiration. Look at all of that lovely green!
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gt... — July 6, 2009 @ 8:46 pm
yall speaking the gospel ladies…
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