Photo courtesy Richard Beauchamp
Sweet Water Foundation ’s educational computer programme focus on sustainability and hand - on training .
Sweet Water Organics , an urban Pisces and vegetable farm in Milwaukee , Wis. , uses aquaponics systems to develop vegetables , herbs , genus Tilapia and perch in what was formerly an give up storage warehouse in the heart of Milwaukee ’s Bay View locality . While the farm supports its community of interests by cater local eatery and farmers markets with its fresh , local produce , a partnership with its resident non-profit-making organization , Sweet Water Foundation , is build a much larger legacy .
Sweet Water Foundation was originally create with one intent : to admit donations of local foodstuff depot ’ intellectual nourishment waste , which would then be kept out of local landfill and release into compost for Sweet Water Organics . But since its conception in 2009 , the non-profit-making has expanded its services and revised its commission ; it now focuses on the exploitation of educational computer programming for sustainability , specifically urban agriculture and aquaculture .
Sweet Water Foundation ’s ultimate goal is to lead to the root of intellectual nourishment security , usage , health , and environmental issue in its community and beyond . “ We are really striving to produce what we call ‘ 21st century region , ’ ” say Jesse Blom , urban center director of Sweet Water Foundation Milwaukee . “ It ’s essentially encompass the evolution of society and incorporating new technologies to make healthier community . ”
The foundation ’s educational program focalise on sustainability and project - base , hands - on training . “ Education is really at the fondness of our deputation , ” Blom says . Activities let in working with educatee to create miniature versions of the farm ’s aquaponics congeal - ups , helping to maintain the farm ’s vermicomposting , and more .
But not all of the brass ’s programs chance on - situation ; Sweet Water also partners with local schools to set up monstrance projects , let in aquaponics systems , grow layer garden and composting , that are maintain by bookman . “ We help them set up and desegregate the practice and mathematical operation into their curriculum , ” Blom says .
One the biggest challenge has been successfully create educational programming that fits in with local school ’ varying curricula . “ If we want to hire these community of interests members , we are pull to provide a really broad spectrum and approach to what we ’re doing , ” Blom says . “ We ’re not getting all scientific discipline teacher . We ’ve had to be really undefended . ”
To achieve this thought-provoking grade of flexibility , the organization partner with the Milwaukee Education Center and several local teachers to create programs that focus on the STEAM correction ( scientific discipline , technology , engineering , agriculture and mathematics ) , incorporating for an interdisciplinary approach . “ Whatever you ’re teaching , in some way you could tie it to these , ” Blom tell .
It ’s work out . Fifty schools came to visit and tour Sweet Water Organics last twelvemonth , and at present , there are about 15 schools ( a mixture of public , private and charter schools ) with aquaponics computer program in Milwaukee . In improver , there are about five or six more schools in Chicago that offer aquaponics and urban agriculture programs . ( The organization ’s Chicago ramification opened last year and is a partnership with Chicago State University . ) Plus , the programming also works for college students , graduate scholar , adult learner and non - traditional students like veterans groups .
“ We ’ve had such a flood of interest and dealings , ” Blom say . “ We ’re meeting a very clear need . ”
There ’s much more to come . One of the foundation ’s newest projects is a global outreach program called Growing Networks , which provides networking opportunities between people of different nations who mold on aquaponics programs . The foundation ’s buffer undertaking was created last year through a collaboration between Sweet Water , the University of Wisconsin - Madison , global consulting business firm Mahattil International , and St. Albert ’s College in Cochin , India . Word has spread , and the institution has received inquiry from grouping in several other country , including Mexico , Serbia , and Ghana , with request to reanimate the broadcast .
at long last , Sweet Water Foundation lately acquire a grant through the Digital Media & Learning Competition , a competition frequent by Hastac , MacArthur Foundation , Mozilla , and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation . The concession will admit the foundation to create a free digital version of its urban agriculture grooming programs , which are expected to be on-line and available by this time next year .
But even with this multi - faceted approach , for Blom it all comes down to creating fervour about aquaponics — and the problems it can help solve — in urban environments anywhere in the world . “ The look on a tike ’s face when they pick up a dirt ball , and they do n’t know whether to confuse up or hollo with excitement — that variety of thing for me is utterly priceless , ” Blom says . “ We like to get TV testimonial from students . The conception that some of these students are talking to us about … like , ‘ You sleep together this is the first time that erudition has been fun for me , ’ or ‘ I have a much larger attention duet when I ’m using a pecker tobuild a compost bin . ’ They ’re real measure of progression we get through testimonial . People get really excited . ”
