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  1. Great to hear this plan is in action regardless of the contest. Brilliant idea.
  2. "The project will be a combination of old-fashioned homesteading, offering participating entrepreneurs an opportunity to own the properties, and the use of databases and new technologies to link individual projects into a larger food distribution system."

    That's a great idea and is practiced in other cities throughout the US in varying degrees.

    My question would be w/ regard to the "databases and new technologies to link individual projects into a larger food distribution system"

    For the neighborhoods that are the hardest hit/lowest income/education levels, how will these people be able to take advantage of the technologies or have the resources to tap into these avenues of information? Computers/Tablets, Internet connections and the abilities to interpret the data all require additional resources/aptitudes.

    Outside of having access to a free plot of land, which seems to be in abundance in the City of Milwaukee, will these entrepreneuers also have access (ie free/subsidized technology, among others) to the tools/tech support/education necessary to manage these plots?
    Hide replies
    • Additionally, these plots of land come with their own needs before one can even begin to take on such an endeavor.

      Beginning..Who pays for the testing of soils to check not only pollutants to see if they are even viable to begin with but for the current health of the soil (ie PH /acidity levels to determine what crops can currently be planted and what is necessary to introduce others), amendments ie fertilizer/nutrients, tilling/preparation of plots/possible addition of soils/sand/peat/gypsum?

      Will there be any guidelines/set practices that need to be followed ie organic or banned use of certain pesticides/fungicides or a list of what is allowed and how to efficiently/safely incorporate the use of such additions?

      Where do the tools to prep (til/weed/work in nutrients) and maintain these plots come from and who pays and where is this stuff stored from prying eyes/deadbolt cutters?

      If technology ie computers/tablets are at all supplied/are availble to entrepreneuers to tap into the network (whatever that may be), what happens when/if they are "lost/stolen" or the person drops out of the program?

      and so forth and so on..
    • Sorry, but who pays for water hook up/usage/irrigation equipment? Will these plot owners be assessed for sewer, snow & ice charges which are very high. and once again who picks up the bill?

      Will rainbarrels be utilized/required as part of the program?

      If this past summer is any indication of what is in store for the future, then a lot of water is going to be needed to keep these plots up & running?

      Heavy water usage can be quite expensive.
    • Truman, I don't see any possibility where massive investments in urban agriculture could even begin to approach the lethality of taxpayer supported Big AG

      "Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Raises Concerns"

      "Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Raises Concerns"
    • If this is going to be a network of many different people then one of my questions would be are they all on the same page/following the same guidelines or is there a ton of room to "play" around w/ whatever. Since Organics is also "hot" now large processors et al are trying to somewhat deceive the lesser informed consumer that their product is "all natural" which someone could take many different ways while not adhering to strict Organic guidelines.

      Example : Sweet Water Organics and what they sold themselves to the public, what the public took to beie Organic w/ the highest of standards/practices and what they actually did. Hell, their perch was a featured entree when President Obama came to town a while ago. All I can say is Oh My!
    • "How to Slap Big Ag Apologists in the Face with Economic Truth"
    • I could see an urban agriculture track where families with a very strong background in agriculture raise hens for egg laying and meat. That opens them to a variety of technologies, chicken moats and chicken tractors, or both. Those reduce feed costs and provides some level of pest management for the garden that's inside the moat. Hens are good mousers and properly used, their manure can be high grade fertilizer.

      The biggest need, however is for Milwaukee to invest in buying food from local, organic sources.

      Raising hens is not easy and no one will get rich doing it. Keeping the best layers alive in the winter is another serious challenge. Joel Salatin (Polyface Farms) has some nice videos about humane slaughter and evisceration
    • The other track I could see is crews, much like grass cutting crews. What to plant, when to plant, gets made by someone who knows what they're doing, where the market is. Crews periodically inspect the crops. They can take soil samples and video with their phone, relay that back to the experts. They can also do weeding. The guy in charge decides when to harvest.

      It will probably look something like yourbackyardfarmer

      OT, folks have to figure out ways to protect their crops from mice, vols, raccoons, skunks,........
  3. If Tommy REALLY wants to help the city, try creating a climate where business WANTS to move to Milwaukee. More business = more employment = more people who might purchase the property and do something constructive with it.
    Hide replies
    • LG, you missed the cornerstone of a business-friendly climate: "CONSUMERS."

      Billionaire Nick Hanauer:

      "Raise Taxes on Rich to Reward True Job Creators: "

      "......When businesspeople take credit for creating jobs, it is like squirrels taking credit for creating evolution. In fact, it’s the other way around.
      And that’s what has been happening in the U.S. for the last 30 years. ...."
    • From Steve Forbes: "How Germany Builds Twice as Many Cars as the U.S. While Paying Its Workers Twice as Much
  4. LGRepublican. Why can't you start a business? I grew a business in the last year from 1 to now 22 employees. It's always the complainers on JS comment section never the doers.

    What is your solution? Less taxes I bet. It will solve the worlds problems.
  5. OK, I really am sorry for this but it just popped into my head.

    You have a situation where this idea/concept has garnered local/statewide and possibly nationwide attention. Community gardens/concepts are the "hot ticket" these days.

    All of the people involved in this program may be in line for recognition/career advancement opportunities.

    Now, let's take a step back w/ what happened w/ another "Hot Concept" that is increasingly gaining in popularity nationally, if not globally.

    What is it you ask?

    Hydroponic Gardening ie Growing Power ( a true success) and the headline grabber turned fiasco Sweet Water Organics.

    Now, the only reason I bring this up is because of the lying, manipulation of documents, lack of oversight and potential misuse of funds bestowed upon this company by the City of Milwaukee. Oh, yeah, an overzealous, politically motivated alderman and the rest of the flock following behind. Here it is.

    Will funds be administered to these entrepreneuers, if so, how? What oversight, if any, will occur to insure the integrity of the program?

    Here is a refresher on what Sweet Water Organics Pulled w/ regard to receiving monies/forgivable loans.

    EVEN MORE INTERESTING is this..By order of the USDA Sweet Water Organics can no longer claim their produce is organic. .

    1. "USDA: Sweet Water “Organics” cannot claim its produce is organic"

    2. Some questions about Sweet Water Organics

    3. Two more questions about Sweet Water Organics

    Some souring on Sweet Water's city financing deal
    Observers now question whether start-up should have gotten funds
    Hide replies
  6. Nice photo.

    Though, once again with the summer that we had, there was no way to grow a garden relying upon mother nature alone. Hence the farmers markets that were merely skeleton operations because no one had crops. So, what happens with this vast network of gardens/gardeners if there is a drought like we had this past summer? Will all lots have their own separate water hook ups/access to the city tap or will they soley rely upon nature? I know that cutting a lateral from the street in for water/sewer ran $20,000. Additionally, if they are tapping into city water, then where is the meter/how do they get charged.

    Ok, I'm done.
  7. What they are doing in NY City and the challenges.

    "In the Garden: Growing Everything but Gardeners"
  8. Actually, there is a lot more to this story via a Patch article titled "Farming The Food System" I hope it doesn't turn into "Gaming The Food System"
    Hide replies
    • Here's an excerpt...


      The plan is further described in this video by Radio Milwaukee.


  9. Truman Burbank.... Get out and do something to change the city instead of posting on a blog. #parentsbasementalert
    Hide replies
    • Ken-

      Is the "Startup" moniker part of your name wishful thinking or the real deal. See, I was always told to NEVER feed a property and if it doesn't make money right away or make sense, don't do it. None of our properties whether in the city of milwaukee or elsewhere lose money. I'm also sure we pay a hell of a lot more in city property taxes than you. What kinds of amounts of $$$ are projected for this type of project where there are thousands of vacant lots available. At least with Habitat for Humanity the prospective homeowner not only has to initially contribute 100's of hours in the construction of their house (a nice way to weed out people), but they also assume the mortgage @ 0% interest for what the house cost to build. People are on the hook and get a hell of a deal at the same time. So, I want to get a free house for 5 years and all I have to do is say I'll garden a plot next door. What happens to the person when they decide gardening is not for them or cannot physically complete the tasks. All the while that they have moved into a newly renovated house for free? Or after 5 years they did some gardening and then received the deed to the house for free and decided to bail on the gardening aspect and possibly the vacant lot once again reverts to a weed infested eyesore. Where are the safety nets for this type of program that it doesn't turn into a financial black hole for taxpayers?

      Better yet, why wasn't this part of the program reported in the Journal story since it will be the most expensive part of the entire program?
    • BTW..these are forclosed properties to be renovated that are being proposed to be given away to participants. What is the condition of these properties? Have all the walls been ripped open and wiring taken out for cash? Have alll plumbing fixtures either been ripped out or smashed. What about those pipes that used to be behind the walls? Have they burst from no heat and freezing weather leading to who knows what kind of water damage if they hadn't already been ripped out for any copper there may have been in in the search for anything of value/that could be resold. Have the furnace, water heater been stolen as well? How many windows have been smashed out/doors kicked in/ripped off hinges? Maybe this foreclosed house was used by squatters and is a complete mess w/ human waste throughout because he toilets/sinks were ripped out/smashed and they had to go somewhere. How about those mobile meth labs/drug dens. Now this just goes over the actual destruction not including what may be necessary to bring a house up to code/make it livable ie new roof, outdated/uninsurable electrical ie fuse, foundation repairs, functioning/efficient windows, OHHHHH, let's not forget about LEAD Paint and remediation costs/requirements.

      One can only imagine the costs to bring these houses up to code and livable when many probably weren't even either to begin with.

      Who's picking up the tab or what kinds of financial projections have been made?

      Have a wonderful day, cause I know I am.


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