What We Do!

Milwaukee Urban Gardens (MUG) supports efforts of community groups wishing to start or sustain neighborhood gardens by negotiating long term lease agreements with the City of Milwaukee.

MUG leads the development and preservation efforts by facilitating land acquisition, resource development, and helping groups develop local leadership and beneficial collaborations.

I. Administrative and Organizational Assistance:

MUG provides administrative and organizational support such as acquiring and holding property, responsibility for paying the property taxes, liability insurance, and acting as a fiscal agent for new groups.

II. Technical Assistance and Resource Development:

MUG provides technical assistance for groups which may include securing on site water for the garden, and connecting groups with resources to help sustain and improve their community garden. MUG provides gardeners with group discounts and in-kind donations of plants and seeds.

III. Community Collaboration:

Community Garden Collective

Milwaukee Urban Gardens brings people from different communities together to share innovative ideas, stories and gardening expertise by way of the Community Garden Collective. The Community Garden Collective is a space for discussion, resource sharing and learning. There are at least twol events per year including the Spring Seed Swap and the Fall Community Garden Tour.

Meet Me In The Garden Calendar

MUG's Meet Me In The Garden Calendar is a central location for agricultural events and happenings around Milwaukee. These events stem from our four gardens: Hocking Heritage Garden, Spencer Garden, Greenfolks Garden and Village Roots Garden as well as other environmental organizations. Events can include everything from yoga with children in the garden to educational workshops about organic gardening.

IV Education:

Grow Your Own Groceries

For all of you that enjoy the taste of homegrown food, Grow Your Own Groceries is a backyard gardening course that teaches urban residents how to design, plant, and care for a productive vegetable garden, plot or any space available. By growing food at home individuals and families save money on groceries, eat healthier, and avoid commercial food safety scares.

The course provides a detailed overview of organic gardening practices and prepares participants for the challenges and rewards of starting a home garden. Topics include: planning and crop rotation, healthy soil and composting, insect and disease control, and much more!Together we are growing food for our tables and our health!

World Lunchbox:

Milwaukee Urban Garden is currently developing World Lunchbox, a comprehensive curriculum that will actively engage students in a deep understanding of the complex interplay between various ethnic groups, cultures, food systems, sustainability, and justice.

For more information please call Jacki Walczak at 414.431.1585 or email jwalczak@milwaukeeurbangardens.org.

Get started!

Protect an existing garden
Acquire land for a community gardening project

Milwaukee Urban Gardens focuses on urban gardening projects that are supported and maintained by a committed community group to ensure that the gardens are well cared for in the future.

Apply to become a partner of Milwaukee Urban Gardens and have your garden protected by completing the application process. Once your application is reviewed by staff at Milwaukee Urban Gardens we will schedule a time to meet with your group and visit the site to learn more about your project. If your application is accepted and are able to lease the land from the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Urban Gardens will provide a basic liability policy to cover people gardening on the site.

Below are the documents needed!

(click to download)

APPLICATION FOR LOT ACQUISITION

Checklist

Milwaukee Urban Gardens Land Use Guidelines 2010

TEMPLATE FOR ALDERMAN LETTER

TEMPLATE FOR COPa LETTER OF SUPPORT