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Urban Agriculture in Milwaukee
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From Will Allen’s internationally renowned Growing Power to neighborhood community gardens, the City of Milwaukee is proud to be involved with urban agriculture initiatives. The City of Milwaukee supports urban agriculture through land sales, zoning & policy revisions, staffing and material contributions. The goal is to improve access to fresh food for Milwaukee residents, beautify neighborhoods, build stronger communities and create jobs. Stay tuned for ongoing developments in the City of Milwaukee as we grow along with Milwaukee’s urban agriculture movement.
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Milwaukee Urban Agriculture in the news
New fish farm on Bluemound Ave wins city approvals
Milwaukee Recognized for Urban Farms, Aquaponics (IBM Smarter Cities)
Milwaukee to allow residents to keep backyard chickens
Milwaukee has been awarded an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Grant for 2011, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Fishing for food solutions, aquaponics offers clues, NBC Nightly News
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In The Works
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Milwaukee Named as Top 20 Finalist in Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge
Visit HOME GR/OWN: Bloomberg Challenge to see Milwaukee's innovative ideas to combat urban problems.
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The US EPA has completed its audit of Milwaukee’s zoning code and made recommendations for changes. Recommended changes in the zoning will be geared to remove barriers and facilitate urban agriculture across the city. Benefits will be targeted to all agriculture in the city from the small neighborhood community garden to larger commercial operations.
Find the report here.
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Milwaukee was awarded an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge Grant and in June of 2011, IBM sent experts to Milwaukee for a three week period to study our urban agriculture systems. The expertise, valued at $400,000.00 of in-kind technical assistance, provided recommendations to bring aquaponics production to a scale and capacity that can be replicated worldwide. View the report here and a video of the IBM team's visit here.
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Zoning changes were approved in January of 2011 to permit a Vertical Farm at Will Allen’s Growing Power located at 5500 West Silver Spring Drive.
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Sweet Water Organics is exploring a sustainable development concept with community-scale manufacturing, restaurants and cafes with food produced from aquaponics.
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Growing Power is looking to expand with a new aquaponics and greenhouse facility to be named the North Avenue. Sustainable Environment Community Center at the former ALSCO, 10TH & North.
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The Walnut Way Conservation Corps continues to foster the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood quality of Life Plan continues as part of the Zilber Family Foundation’s $50 million commitment to Milwaukee neighborhoods. Read more here
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Green Street on South 6th Street from Howard Ave to College Ave. The City of Milwaukee is working with Alderman Witkowski, local businesses and area activists on plans to expand community gardening, green infrastructure, energy efficiencies and stormwater management. The convergence of these green elements over time will create a showcase “Green Street” along with improved pedestrian, bicycle and traffic amenities
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Recent Developments
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July 2012
Hens are legal throughout Milwaukee with the Common Council not renewing the sunset provision that was part of the original ordinance. The latest report from the Department of Neighborhood Services has 14 chicken permits throughout Milwaukee and no complaints for these permittees.
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January 2011
Hoop houses permitted if used solely for agricultural purposes and not more than seven hours per day for educational purposes.
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December, 2010
Zoning change passed that allows seasonal markets to operate up to 180 days in certain circumstances and plant nursery, raising of crops or livestock is no longer prohibited but a special use in commercial and institutional districts.
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November 2010
Redevelopment Authority approves a $900,000 EPA grant to remediate 538 South 2nd Street. This will foster the development of Julie Kaufman’s Clock Shadow Creamery, an urban creamery with a planted roof garden.
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Recent History
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May 2010
Thurston Woods Community Garden, 5974 North 40th Street, honored with a Mayor’s Design Award for “Spaces and Places”
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March 2010
Beekeeping ordinance passed in allowing residents to keep up to two colonies of honeybees on private property. Read more here
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June 2009
Will Allen converts ornamental flower beds at City Hall to an urban demonstration garden, landscaped with vegetables.
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May 2009
City of Milwaukee sells two vacant lots to Walnut Way in for an urban agriculture field testing station operated by UW Madison’s School of Agriculture. Goal is to determine best management of urban soil fertility and possible contaminants.
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April 2009
Hmong American Friendship Garden dedicated at former Esser Paint Company site. Collaboration with US EPA, WI DNR and UW extension have transformed this former brownfield and dumping site into a productive urban garden site. Enews 5/13/10
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March 2009
The Department of City Development initiates three-year lease agreements with Milwaukee Urban Gardens allowing community gardens to have more secure tenure on City-owned land. As of January 2011 the City has issued 21 garden permits and eight three-year garden leases city wide.
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June 2008
Alderman Witkowski along with area residents and businesses declares the 13th district the Garden District. Streets, parks and homes are beautified with increased plantings and improved signage. The Garden District Neighborhood Association continues to work with UW Extension to create community gardens at 6th and Howard.
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Center for Resilient Cities
Groundwork Milwaukee
Growing Power
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Milwaukee Environmental Consortium
Milwaukee Urban Agriculture Network
Milwaukee Urban Gardens
Sweet Water Organics
University of Wisconsin Extension
Urban Ecology Center
Victory Garden Initiative
Walnut Way Conservation Corps
Looking to garden on a vacant lot owned by the City of Milwaukee? Click here for more information
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