A new kind of urban farm is growing in Milwaukee and hopes to be a solution in neighborhoods that don’t have access to grocery stores. Entrepreneurs are farming for the future in a basement that has been transformed into urban agricultural space using hydroponics. Hydroponics is basically growing without soil,” said Dominican Center executive director Marichas Harris. “Instead of the sun, we have lights that give off the rays that the sun gives to keep the plants green and healthy,” said hydroponics specialist Wesley Landry. “I find it incredible that we have the capacity to grow 40,000 plants in our basement in the Amani neighborhood,” Harris said. Harris runs the Dominican Center on 24th and Locust streets. She said the project was vital for the Amani neighborhood. “Amani’s neighborhood does not have a grocery store within the current neighborhood boundary,” Harris said. Their partner, FullCircle26 Inc., provided the hydroponic devices. “When you look at a food desert, where people don’t have access to fresh produce, we have a wide variety of health issues,” said FullCircle26 Inc. CEO and Founder Shelley Matthews. The fresh green and plants go back to the Amani district. It’s their own take on farm-to-table. “I’ve had residents use them. I’ve had a restaurant chef use them,” Landry said. “They can acquire devices and use them not only to put food on their plates at home, but also to undertake them and create a source of financial income for their families,” Harris said. “I just want to continue the journey that we have here to teach people how to do it, to help people grow in their home,” Landry said. The Dominican Center is looking for volunteers to help in the hydroponics laboratory. If anyone is interested, click here.
A new kind of urban farm is growing in Milwaukee and hopes to be a solution in neighborhoods that don’t have access to grocery stores.
Entrepreneurs cultivate the future in a basement that has been transformed into urban agricultural space thanks to hydroponics.
“Hydroponics is basically growing without soil,” said Dominican Center executive director Marichas Harris.
“Instead of the sun, we have lights that give off the rays that the sun gives to keep the plants green and healthy,” said hydroponics specialist Wesley Landry.
“I find it incredible that we have the capacity to grow 40,000 plants in our basement in the Amani neighborhood,” Harris said.
Harris runs the Dominican Center on 24th and Locust streets. She said the project was vital for the Amani neighborhood.
“The Amani neighborhood does not have a grocery store within the current neighborhood boundary,” Harris said.
Their partner, FullCircle26 Inc., provided the hydroponic devices.
“When you look at a food desert, where people don’t have access to fresh produce, we have a wide variety of health issues,” said FullCircle26 Inc. CEO and Founder Shelley Matthews.
The fresh green and plants go back to the Amani district. It’s their own take on farm-to-table.
“I’ve had residents use them. I’ve had a restaurant chef use them,” Landry said.
“They can acquire devices and use them not only to put food on their plates at home, but also to undertake them and create a source of financial income for their families,” Harris said.
“I just want to continue the journey that we have here to teach people how to do it, to help people grow in their own home,” Landry said.
The Dominican Center is looking for volunteers to help out in the hydroponics lab.
If anyone is interested, click here.
