The Good Food Revolution Summary

The Good Food Revolution by Will Allen is about creating a healthy and safe community. It describes the process of growing fresh food in an urban environment, and also how doing so can be used to improve a community. It also describes the blessings and hardships of life as an an urban farmer.

Will Allen, author of The Good Food Revolution, grew up in a farming family in 1949. As a child, he hoped to become a professional basketball player. While working towards this goal, he experienced segregation, which was still legal. Although hindered by this, he eventually did achieve his goal to become a professional basketball player, but soon after stopped playing basketball due to how his body suffered from it, and also because of how he had developed cancer. After leaving basketball, he became a fast food manager, but soon left that job for a more profitable position at Procter & Gamble. While working for Procter & Gamble, he also worked part time as a farmer. Although working at Procter &

Gamble let him lead a comfortable living, Will Allen was not altogether contented working there. One day while driving, Will Allen came across a lot for sale with several greenhouses. He purchased the lot, thinking to use it as a space to market the produce from his farm on. He then left Procter & Gamble.
Soon after the founding of Will’s market, he encountered difficulties due to the winter. This was because he did not have an effective source of income during the winter as a farmer, and thus couldn’t pay for the expenses of his business. However, he soon found a partial solution to this problem that enabled him to get by. This was to form a co-op, which enabled him to sell produce even in the winter; he could sell produce from other farmers who needed a place to sell, which enabled both parties to profit.
After getting through the winter, Will began searching for additional ways to help the community through his produce. He then noticed some kids in a youth group trying to plant a garden, but lacking the space to do so. Will gave them some space, and they planted their garden. They then sold their produce in Will’s market. Will was paid for his time and the usage of the space. Local kids began to work the farm. Next the local authorities noticed the success the success of the youth group, the local authorities thought that farming would be a beneficial thing for the inmates of the local jail to get into. They contacted Will, and Will began to teach the inmates farming. Thus Will began to become a role model to others, and in this way helped the community.
Will’s co-op then joined a non profit organization called Growing Power.

Growing Power’s owner Hope did not have the space to farm in, but she did have the managing skills to run an organization. Will and Hope became co-directors of Growing Power. Around the same time, Will was approached by a waste disposal organization who wanted to find a way to prevent food scraps from ending up in landfills. This led to compost supplies being collected and delivered to Will’s farm.

Will began to look for sustainable growing systems. One that he found was Aquaponics, in which waste-water from fish in a tank is collected, used to fertilize plants, which filter it, and then piped back into the tank. Using this he was able to produce food in the winter. Additionally, he discovered a technology called Anaerobic Digestion where food waste is broken down and turned into both fertilizer and energy. He also worked on a vermiculture system, which uses worm droppings to create an effective

fertilizer.
Will’s efforts began to become well known, and thus he received more support. He was given the MacArthur Genius Award, and he received a million dollar grant from Walmart. Others were inspired to follow in his footsteps, creating composting systems and urban farms. Will’s efforts have greatly increased the amount of fresh food available to people of low income who previously were forced to purchase fast food. His work provided many opportunities for those around him, and enabled for a healthier community.