Mission

Milwaukee Urban Gardens acquires and preserves land and partners with neighborhood residents to develop and maintain community gardens to enhance the quality of life.

History

Community Gardens have been a historical presence in Milwaukee since World War I. Today, however, they are an endangered species. Over the last twenty years, Milwaukee County has lost over 60% of its garden plots to pressures of development - jeopardizing the quality of life for future generations of Milwaukeeans. In many neighborhoods, new developments are quickly swallowing any remaining vacant parcels, resulting in little open green space left in urban neighborhoods.

Milwaukee Urban Gardens was founded in 2000 by a group of individuals that had been negatively affected by the loss of their community garden plots. Frustrated by feelings of powerlessness towards the loss of their gardens and many others in Milwaukee, the founders of MUG decided to form an organization whose mission was to protect community gardens and support community gardening in urban Milwaukee.

The organization currently holds titles to four properties: Greenfolks Garden in Riverwest; Village Roots Garden in Bay View; Hocking Heritage and Spencer Garden, both on the Northwest side of Milwaukee.

Programs & Activities

Community Gardening Technical Assistance and Mentoring Program

The Community Gardening Mentoring and Technical Assistance Program is designed to address the needs of local groups by providing support to help them grow and maintain a stable organization and healthy community garden.  The Community Gardening Mentoring and Technical Assistance program is accomplished through land acquisition, garden design and construction, neighborhood leadership development, strong collaborations, and education.

Organization Goals & Progress

To develop strong community gardening groups and gardening programs

The organization has a five-year track record of partnering with local community groups to purchase and preserve land for urban gardens. Since 2000, MUG has purchased, preserved and established community gardens on four properties.

To foster the existing network of the community gardening groups and strengthen the community gardening movement in Milwaukee to increase awareness regarding the benefits of urban gardening

All goals and outcomes of MUG's programs are to create strong communities and have urban residents realize an increase in the quality of life that results from having a community garden in their neighborhood. Adults and children will develop a respect for nature and the urban environment and low-income residents will have access to a supplementary food source.

Board of Directors

President

Pamela Schaefer

Attorney

 Reinhart, Boerner and Van Deuren

Vice-President

Mary Beth Driscoll
Executive Director

Groundwork Milwaukee

Secretary/Treasurer

Melissa Rudolph
Project Architect
Workshop Architects

Board of Directors

Ivory Cainion
Artist
Anthony Lyons
Freelance Carpenter

Karen Mierow

Senior Planner

 Department of City Development: Milwaukee
Jacqueline Ward
Financial Awareness Program Coordinator
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation
Christopher Weber
Horticulturist
Bruce Company of Wisconsin
Venice Williams
Executive Director
Kujichagulia Lutheran Center

 SeedFolks Youth Ministry
Jennifer Youngblood
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Protection Agency Region V

Board Emeritus

Monique Charlier
Division Vice President CMA of Milwaukee, Inc.
The Jansen Group
Deborah Kern
Owner
The Garden Room

Staff

Garden Coordinator

Erin Kanuckel
(414) 431-1585
erin@milwaukeeurbangardens.org

Jacki Walczak

jwalczak@milwaukeeurbangardens.org