REBEL GREEN PRESS RELEASE - - MAY 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee Area students from economically challenged area to volunteer at
urban farm: Growing Power
May 24, 2011 - Thirty Milwaukee area seventh graders from Windlake Elementary School (A Seeds of Health School) on Milwaukee’s south side will volunteer at Growing Power, the urban farm started and run by (one of “Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the Year” Will Allen) on Monday, May 24 in order to learn about Food Deserts, aquaponics and urban farming. Many of these students have never before been on a farm nor seen a fish. This is especially poignant as these kids live only a few miles from Lake Michigan and in a state known for its dairy farms.
These seventh graders are taking part in an educational program run by local eco brand, Rebel Green to gain experiences in nature and to introduce them to job opportunities they might not have otherwise been exposed to such as jobs as agriculturalists or environmental engineers. This is the second trip to Growing Power for these students. At their first visit, they toured Growing Power where they learned how Will Allen’s innovative farming methods are making it possible to grow fresh and healthy vegetables in an urban setting- thus making fresh food, not just fast food to readily available to this urban neighborhood.
Now, those students are going back to “volunteer” on the Growing Power Farm from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, May 24th, for an opportunity to learn hands on about farming in an urban setting. Through the study of aquaponics (growing crops and live fish together in a recirculating system) and urban farming, students will learn how Will Allen’s “Growing Power” is bringing healthy food to people living in food deserts and ultimately help revive economically depressed areas.
Teaching students to reduce, reuse and recycle
To teach the concept of reducing, reusing and recycling, the students will be given reusable organic cotton “Rebel Green produce bags” filled with fresh veggies and fruit as their “goody bag” after they volunteer . (the kids were already given the produce bags at an earlier eco field trip and are bringing them back so they can be filled again- thus teaching them “reusing” has its rewards).
Food Deserts
These are nutritional wastelands that exist across America in both urban and rural communities where parents and children simply do not have access to a supermarket. Some 23.5 million Americans – including 6.5 million children – currently live in food deserts.
Seeds of Health (Windlake Elementary School) is a non-profit social services agency which has provided health, nutritional services and educational programs since 1983. Seeds operates a WIC (Women’s Infant’s and Children) program and offers educational programs through two elementary and three high schools.
Rebel Green (www.rebelgreen.com) a local, Milwaukee based company, is sponsoring the educational event. Rebel Green designs stylish, eco-friendly products manufactured in the USA using only responsibly sustainable materials. The products are specifically designed to motivate a fundamental shift in thinking about our impact on the planet. To further this mission, a percentage of the company’s sales are donated directly to charities that fight hunger and promote clean water initiatives. Rebel Green products include organic cotton bags and a fruit and veggie wash. The products are available at select Whole Foods stores in the Milwaukee area, Chicago area and in other fine stores worldwide.
Media Contacts:
Melina Marcus or Ali Ruvin
www.rebelgreen.com
(414.305.1817)