Hey everyone!
November is here, and we’re proud to have wrapped up the growing season with more collaborations than ever.
message from the executive TEAM
open positions
Climate Safe Neighborhoods
GREEN TEAM
GROUND CORPS
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE TEAM
It’s Not Just A Garden
Groundwork Milwaukee Garden Leaders are responsible for more than ten acres of vacant land being activated in Milwaukee County. These volunteer environmentalists are staving off the effects of climate change by preserving greenspaces in neighborhoods that are being hit hard by the environmental hazards of urban life. They choose a city owned plot, assemble local gardeners as crew, and get busy! Some gardens are memorials dedicated to lost loved ones, others pollinator gardens meant to feed birds and bees. There are gardens meant to offer shade, or solace, or food or fun.
Two things that every neighborhood insists on are beauty and comfort. That means our gardens are beautiful and comfortable in as many ways as there are gardeners! Thank you, Garden Leaders, for helping make Milwaukee beautiful and Climate Safe!
Listen to one of our Garden Leaders talk about the importance of her community garden here.
Climate Safe Neighborhoods
An important part of our year end results is the release of a Flood and Health Vulnerability assessment for Milwaukee. We’ve been collaborating with Wisconsin Health Professionals For Climate Action, Data You Can Use, Medical College of Wisconsin, The New School and Groundwork USA to create an interactive tool which lets us predict the impact of climate change on urban environments, and help vulnerable neighborhoods thrive in any weather.
Join our Mailing list to receive a free copy of this groundbreaking development.
Hilltop Community Garden
Volunteer.
We’re proud to support our inspiring gardeners and look forward to working together over winter, and next season. Keep an eye out for weekly opportunities on our Volunteer Sign-Up page and social media.
Green Team
Green Team has shut down for the summer, but we did some cool weather gardening with our friends at Golda Meir School! We also spent time recruiting supporters for next year’s Green Team. potential board members joined us for breakfast at Engine Company Three
Below are pictures of the lively and productive meeting.
GROUND CORPS
Ground Corps Completes Healing Spaces, and expands Green initiatives through 2024
Ground Corps has been busy all over Milwaukee working on green infrastructure construction and maintenance; building and maintaining bioswales, rain harvest structures and ADA accessible healing gardens. We built Healing spaces in neighborhoods this season, partnered with the city of Milwaukee.
Phase Two of Healing Spaces Initiative effort is part of Groundwork Milwaukee’s commitment to make on-the-job skill building an important part of building Milwaukee’s central city.
Why is green infrastructure certification and training in the neighborhood important?
First, opening the land to absorb rainfall where vulnerable populations live in Milwaukee stops rainwater runoff into the sewer system and basements.
Second, providing shade and ground cover in high pavement areas, lowers the surface temperature on hot days, which can positively impact quality of life for residents.
Jobs and jobs training for neighbors interested in pursuing urban forestry as a career path prepares engaged neighbors for a green future in Milwaukee .
