Milwaukee’s Urban Farming: How A Rust Belt City Cultivated A Grassroots Idea Into A National Model

As industry collapsed and neighborhoods suffered decades of disinvestment, residents began turning to the land in vacant lots, schoolyards, and rooftops as a means of survival and resistance.
By Jasmyne Jade Hill
Milwaukee Independent
Aug 9, 2025
Excerpt:
Milwaukee’s urban farming scene has garnered national recognition not just for its innovation, but for the depth of its grassroots leadership. Food policy councils across the U.S. have studied the city’s integration of agriculture into zoning laws and its emphasis on community-based food economies.
Visiting delegations routinely tour Milwaukee’s urban farms as models for public health initiatives and climate resilience. The movement has also had indirect benefits.
Studies from institutions like UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Economic Development have found that urban gardens increase neighborhood cohesion, reduce crime in vacant lot areas, and contribute to localized climate adaptation through soil regeneration and stormwater absorption.
Yet practitioners caution against romanticizing the work. Urban farming in Milwaukee remains labor-intensive and often underfunded. Many growers rely on a patchwork of seasonal grants, volunteer labor, and personal investment to maintain operations.
Without sustained public investment or legal land security, the risk of burnout remains high. In a 2023 roundtable hosted by the Milwaukee Food Council, several leaders emphasized the need for long-term policy support, including a dedicated Office of Urban Agriculture and increased investment in BIPOC-led food initiatives.
Read the complete article here.
Source: https://cityfarmer.info/milwaukees-urban-farming-how-a-rust-belt-city-cultivated-a-grassroots-idea-into-a-national-model/
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