Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table

Written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin · Illustrated by Shabazz Larkin

Book #1 in the Food Heroes series

A visionary farmer transforms urban wastelands into thriving gardens.

4.2 Goodreads · 605 ratings

32 pages· 1,096 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud· AD620L

$11.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Will Allen, a towering former basketball star, sees potential where others see decay. In Milwaukee's abandoned lots, he envisions gardens that could feed the world. With innovative methods like aquaponics, he tackles poor soil and limited space, turning urban farming into a movement. As challenges arise, Will's genius for problem-solving shines, inspiring communities and earning him recognition. Can his vision of sustainable urban agriculture change the way we feed our cities? Discover the story of a man who sees beyond the concrete and into a future of abundance.

From the publisher

Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. A former basketball star, he’s as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage–or a basketball–in one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can’t see. When he looked at an abandoned city lot in Milwaukee he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. No space, no problem. Poor soil, there’s a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one for his innovative urban farming methods, including aquaponics and hydroponics. Jacqueline Briggs Martin, author of the Caldecott Medal winner, Snowflake Bentley, and Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious , along with debut artist Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s striking artwork, tells the inspiring story of the African American innovator, educator, and community builder. Farmer Will Allen is the first book of Martin’s Food Heroes series, followed by Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious. In 2015, it was selected by Points of Light Foundation to set a new Guinness World Record for the most children reading the same book across the globe to promote literacy. Nearly 300,000 participated.

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