The Victory Garden Urban Farm is our 1.5-acre urban farm located in the heart of the Harambee neighborhood. The Farm is a hub of inspiring activity and a real-life picture of various solutions to the disparities that negatively impact the Milwaukee’s food system and the prevalence of hunger associated with poor nutrition and lack of food access as well as improving the neighborhood environment. From community composting to rainwater harvest to organic practices, the Farm is a model of environmentally healthy practices working together.

This creates a perfect landscape for neighbors meeting neighbors, offering locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to Harambee residents, providing alternative growing spaces, educating and empowering youth to make positive changes to their food habits and the food system, partnering with restaurants to represent a healthy supply, distribution, and revenue segment of the food system; and finally demonstrating a commitment to Milwaukee residents by providing meaningful opportunities for students, community service needs, businesses, youth, and recovery groups.

NATURAL FOOD FOREST

Over time, we are transforming the land into a beautiful and nourishing community space that provides an ABUNDANCE OF FOOD. The conversion of the land into a food forest includes fruit- and nut-producing trees, shrubs, herbs, and other perennial plants. Victory Garden Urban Farm will produce the most amount of food by creating a nearly self-sustaining ecosystem that includes not only people and plants, but also beneficial animals, insects, fungi, and microorganisms.

Did you know that you can grow peaches in Wisconsin? In our Food Forest, we have trees and shrubs that bear pears, apples, cherries, apricots, raspberries, peaches, currants, and mulberries, among others!

We also grow perennial herbs such as rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme, and oregano and perennial crops such as asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, and Jerusalem artichokes.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

The Farm is home to a 400 square foot shelter and rainwater harvesting system accompanied by 500-gallon cistern. By collecting the rainwater that falls on the shelter, we reduce our dependence on city water and ENSURE A CONVENIENT WATER SOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY GARDENERS. Thanks to funding from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD) plans are underway this spring to install an additional 1700 gallon underground rainwater catchment system.

Victory Garden Urban Farm has been recognized as part of the MILLION POLLINATORS GARDEN CHALLENGE and as FEED A BEE partner. Along our fence lines, our front entryway, and throughout our farm we plant and maintain native perennial wildflowers. In addition to our own honey bees from our 4 hives, we have observed several species of wild bees and many species of butterflies. The Farm is not just a gathering place and nutritious food source for our neighbors but is a green oasis for wildlife in the city!