Farmer Will Allen And The Growing Table Discussion Questions

1. What is the physical description of Will Allen as introduced in the chapter?

Will Allen is described as being as tall as his truck, which suggests he is a very tall person. He has the strength to hold either a cabbage or a basketball in one hand. His presence is impactful, as when he laughs, everyone around him laughs too, showing he is a source of joy and camaraderie.

2. What kinds of food did Will Allen’s family serve at the kitchen table during his childhood?

Will Allen recalls that his kitchen table was often filled with bowls of peas, greens, and his favorite dish: lima beans with ham. His mother prepared enough food for thirty people, indicating a strong tradition of hospitality and family meals centered around fresh, home-cooked food.

3. How did Will’s early experiences with food influence his later views on farming and access to good food?

While Will loved the food his family grew, he initially disliked the hard work of farming and dreamt of pursuing a career in basketball or other 'white-shirt' jobs. However, his experiences in Belgium, where he helped dig potatoes, reignited his passion for working with the earth. This led him to believe in the importance of fresh food access for everyone, which shaped his later endeavors in urban farming.

4. What led Will Allen to realize that he wanted to pursue farming?

After his basketball career and working in a white-collar job in Wisconsin, Will began growing vegetables on the land of his wife Cyndy’s parents. However, it was witnessing the scarcity of fresh vegetables in urban areas that sparked his understanding of the need for local food sources. This realization added to his belief that everyone deserves access to good food.

5. What overarching theme can be inferred from the chapter regarding Will Allen's journey?

The overarching theme of the chapter highlights the connection between food, community, and individual purpose. It demonstrates how Will Allen's childhood experiences with food, love for family meals, and later insights about food scarcity in cities shaped his mission to provide fresh, healthy food to all, showing the transformative power of nurturing both soil and community.

1. What inspired Will Allen to buy the plot of land with empty greenhouses?

Will Allen was inspired to buy the plot of land after spotting six empty greenhouses while driving in Milwaukee. He envisioned children, who had never experienced the taste of fresh vegetables like ripe tomatoes and raw green beans, sitting at his table enjoying the produce he could grow there. This vision motivated him to invest in the city lot.

2. What challenges did Will Allen face with the soil on his newly acquired land?

Will found that the soil on his newly acquired land was 'dirty', contaminated with chemicals and pollution. This posed a significant challenge because he lacked the funds necessary to purchase machines that could dig out the bad soil or to buy truckloads of clean soil to replace it. This predicament left him with an empty table despite having the land.

3. How did Will Allen go about creating good soil for his farm?

Will used his knowledge from Belgium about composting to improve the quality of the soil. He needed a significant amount of food waste to create compost, so he asked friends to save their food scraps, including apple peels and old zucchinis. He collected this waste in large white buckets and created compost piles, adding materials such as hay, leaves, newspapers, and red wiggler worms. By turning the piles to aerate them, he involved neighborhood kids in the process, educating them about composting and maintaining a sustainable farming environment.

4. What did Will learn about feeding red wiggler worms and how did it impact his composting efforts?

After studying worms for five years, Will learned important lessons about how to feed red wiggler worms. He discovered that certain foods, specifically hot peppers, onions, and garlic, were not suitable for the worms, while they thrived on sweeter scraps like watermelon rinds and sweet potato leftovers. This knowledge allowed him to optimize his composting efforts and ensure that the worms contributed effectively to soil quality, which Will referred to as worm 'magic' that helped his farm thrive.

5. How did Will Allen expand the growing space in his small city plot and what features did he add to support his farming efforts?

To maximize the limited space on his small city plot, Will Allen utilized vertical farming techniques and other innovative methods. He hung plant baskets from the ceilings of the greenhouses, grew vegetables in buckets and rows, and filled shelves with pots of spinach, chard, and lettuce. He also constructed hoophouses to create more growing space and incorporated fish tanks into his greenhouse setup, using fish wastewater to fertilize the plants. Additionally, he introduced goats, chickens, turkeys, and bees into his farming system, collectively enriching his operation, which he named 'Growing Power'.

1. What attire does Will Allen typically wear while working on his farm?

Will Allen usually wears jeans and a blue sweatshirt with cutoff sleeves while he is busy working on his farm from early morning to night.

2. How does Will Allen envision expanding local food production, especially in urban areas?

Will Allen believes that to expand local food production, more individuals need to be involved in farming. He encourages people from various backgrounds, such as teenagers, parents, and grandparents, to learn how to grow food. His vision is for fifty million more people to engage in urban agriculture, utilizing spaces like porches, pots, and side yards to contribute towards a larger community table.

3. What impact did Will Allen aim for with his traveling and sharing knowledge about farming?

Will Allen aimed to inspire and educate people across the United States and around the world on how to farm in urban settings. By showing them methods for growing food, he sought to facilitate self-sufficiency and improve access to healthy produce, thereby expanding the concept of food farming beyond rural areas to city environments.

4. What are some innovative farming ideas that Will Allen has proposed for increasing food production?

Will Allen has proposed various innovative farming ideas, such as establishing schoolyard plots, creating vertical farms that are five stories high, and utilizing empty factories or warehouses for agricultural purposes. He envisions a future where urban farms are as common as streetlights, thereby integrating food production into urban life.

5. In the afterword, what key points does Will Allen emphasize for young readers about engaging with farming and healthy eating?

In the afterword, Will Allen emphasizes that readers can actively participate in improving food quality by: 1) eating fresh vegetables and fruits, 2) planting their own small gardens in various locations (such as backyards, porches, or even indoors), and 3) starting a worm factory to enhance soil quality through composting. He encourages youth to be proactive in growing food for themselves and their families as a means of contributing to health and self-sufficiency.