If you walk into Alice’s Garden, just know that you’ll be walking onto a peaceful, beautiful and welcoming piece of land.
Alice’s Garden is two-acres of an urban, community garden and it’s tucked away between 21 st Street and Garfield Avenue. Alice’s Garden educates, connects and welcomes neighbors, families and individuals across Greater Milwaukee. There are a variety of free programs available for local residents who want to learn the basics of gardening, explore healthy food options, to advance their current gardening skills, or to simply connect with others in a positive environment.
Programsrange from Healthy Moms, Healthy Kids, Fieldhands & Foodways, Reclaiming and Nourishing Family Traditions, Making Sense of the Garden, Exercise and Relax in the Garden, Seedfolks Roots and Shoots Club, 4-H Health Rocks Day Camps…plus there are rental plots, the Labyrinth and much more!
Here are just some of the many reasons that Alice’s Garden exists in Milwaukee.
“Community gardens increase a sense of community ownership and stewardship.
Community gardens foster the development of a community identity and spirit.
Community gardens bring people together from a wide variety of backgrounds (age, race, culture, social class).
Community gardens build community leaders.
Community gardens provide opportunities to meet neighbors.
Community gardens increase eyes on the street.”
So I went to Alice’s Garden to get a feel for what an urban, community garden is really like. I spoke with Venice Williams, Director of Alice’s Garden. Venice is said to be the garden’s ‘visionary leader’ and there’s no doubt about that as she’s an absolute joy to talk to. I also caught up with Venice’s two sons and Fatuma Emmad, the Urban Farm Manager.
To learn more about the wonders of Alice’s Garden, click the podcast below.
To volunteer at Alice’s Garden, click here.