Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table (4 Paperback/1 CD)

Farmer Will Allen, a former basketball star, is an innovator, educator, and community builder. When he looked at an abandoned city lot, he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. This inspiring story of his determination to bring good food to every table inspires as it informs, with clear and lively text and bright, engaging illustrations.

Farmer Will Allen's path to becoming a renowned urban farmer and food justice advocate was not a straight one. He was born in 1949 in Maryland and grew up on a small family farm, where he learned the value of hard work and the importance of growing and sharing fresh, nutritious food. As a young man, Allen pursued a different dream – basketball – and he excelled, earning a scholarship to play at the University of Miami.

After graduating, Allen played professionally in the American Basketball Association (ABA) for several years. However, he never forgot his roots in agriculture. When his professional basketball career ended, he returned to his family's farm, determined to put his knowledge and skills to use in a different way.

Allen recognized that many urban neighborhoods, particularly those with large minority and low-income populations, lacked access to fresh, healthy food. These "food deserts" were often filled with fast-food restaurants and convenience stores offering little in the way of nutritious options. Driven by a desire to change this, Allen founded Growing Power, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing community food systems and providing education and training in sustainable urban agriculture.

Through Growing Power, Allen transformed that abandoned city lot into a thriving urban farm, growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. He also established aquaponics systems, where fish and plants are grown together in a symbiotic relationship. By using these innovative techniques, Allen was able to maximize the productivity of his urban farm and provide fresh, affordable produce to the surrounding community.

But Allen's vision extended far beyond just growing food. He saw his work as a way to build community, foster education, and empower people to take control of their own food systems. He offered hands-on training programs, hosted community events, and worked tirelessly to connect urban residents with the land and the food it could produce.

Through his efforts, Farmer Will Allen has become a nationally recognized leader in the urban agriculture and food justice movements. His story inspires others to rethink the way they approach food production, distribution, and consumption, and to work towards a more equitable and sustainable food system for all.

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