About Us

Victory Garden Initiative (VGI) was founded in 2009, sparked by a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy food. What began as a small group of passionate neighbors has grown into a citywide movement to transform Milwaukee’s food system—one garden at a time.

Food insecurity affects communities across Milwaukee, where too many families lack access to affordable, nutritious food. These challenges are especially concentrated in neighborhoods like Harambee, where our office is located. Labeled a food desert, Harambee—like many parts of the city—faces systemic barriers that make it difficult for residents to find fresh produce close to home.

We know that food insecurity doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s rooted in structural inequities and systems that have long failed our most vulnerable communities. At VGI, we’re committed to dismantling those systems by building a just and inclusive food future for all.

With hands in the soil and hearts in the work, our gardening programs, youth education, composting efforts, and annual Great Milwaukee Blitz empower people to grow their own food and take back control of their health and their futures. By putting food production back into the hands of neighbors, families, and young people, we’re nurturing a stronger, more self-sufficient community.

Since 2009, we’ve built more than 7,000 raised garden beds, produced over 75 tons of nutrient-rich compost, and grown 50+ varieties of organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs—all rooted in the belief that change begins in our own backyards.