Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power, Inc. and recipient of the 2008 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award, is leading a group on a 10 day trip to 3 areas of the South, the cities of New Orleans, Louisiana, Forest City, Arkansas and Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
(Vocus/PRWEB ) November 7, 2008 -- Will Allen, CEO of Growing Power, Inc. and recipient of the 2008 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award, is leading a group on a 10 day trip to 3 areas of the South, the cities of New Orleans, Louisiana, Forest City, Arkansas and Mound Bayou, Mississippi.
His team includes Martin Bailkey, who will be evaluating the effectiveness of the Growing Power Training Programs. Jerry Kaufman, Growing Power's board president, will also be present to witness the effectiveness of field work and outreach training. Larry Adams, from Walnut Way, one of GP's Milwaukee partner organizations, Robert Pierce, an African American farmer from Madison, Wisconsin, who will be setting up and operating a Growing Power Regional Training Center in Madison and Chase Silinas, co-director of Growing Power.
Today, Will Allen met with New Orleans city officials to discuss the feasibility of the development of urban agriculture in New Orleans. He will be scouting different areas around New Orleans for new locations sites.
While in New Orleans, Allen will working with Pam Broom and the New Orleans Food and Farm Network, studying the feasibly of where they can do composting, vermicomposting, locations to grow soil, and where they can obtain waste materials. Also, the important question of where do they glean their food waste to do their composting?
Saturday, November 8, 2008, he will be putting up a greenhouse at the site of The New Orleans Food and Farm Network's 1 acre farm.
Monday, November 10, 2008 Allen and his team will travel on to Forest City, Arkansas to continue the development of a Growing Power Regional Mid-South Agricultural training center partnering with Barry and Diane Colley, the directors of 7 Harvest, Inc. He will be constructing a greenhouse there and conducting a two day training on composting, vermicomposting and aquaponics.
Allen will conclude his trip in the historic city of Mound Bayou, Mississippi on Wednesday, November 12. Mound Bayou, founded by two former slaves following The Civil War, remains the oldest black municipal government in the South. He will be developing a strategic plan with Mega, Mississippians Engaging in Greener Agriculture to develop a new Growing Power Regional Training Center, engaging farmers in the area and teaching them GP's trademark techniques.
For more information on Will Allen and Growing Power Please visit: www.growingpower.org.
