Milwaukee County, UW-Extension has maintained community gardens throughout the region since 1972. In 2014, nearly 1,250 community garden plots are rented at 10 different sites on nearly (75) acres of land. These garden plots range in size from 400 sq. feet to a 1/4 acre micro-farm. The community gardeners represent a relatively diverse population of age, race and socio-economic status. Racial make
up of the gardeners is around 55% Caucasian, 32% Asian, 6% African American, 4% Latino, and 3% of multiple races. The Wisconsin Emerging Farmer Program is rooted in a mission to assist beginning farmers to be economically viable, socially & culturally fruitful, and environmentally sustainable. We empower emerging farmers in the region by facilitating land access, coordinating educational workshops, building community resource networks, and providing technical resources for selling product. Participants – or “micro-farmers” – learn sustainable methods to increase their food production while cultivating buyer relationships with partnered Milwaukee restaurants, markets, and food co-ops. University of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties cooperating, UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA.
