NBC26 Cares: Growing Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis.--We've all heard of 'Going Green.' Well, there's one woman in Oshkosh who's an environmental pioneer. Dani Stolley is building a community supported urban farm, the first of its kind in the area.
"We're literally trying to spread hope and so we think flowers and food are a good entree to do that." Dani started a non-profit organization called 'Growing Oshkosh.' The group plans to transform a one acre plot of land along the Fox River into an urban garden. "Having lived in Oshkosh all my life and loving the river and loving the lake, I'm always a little bit hesitant about eating lake fish;" Dani explains. "This is just a great way to make sure the fish is good, healthy, fresh and goes to the people in the community who really need it the most."
The farm will produce perch and bluegill. Waste from the fish will be used to grow fruits and vegetables. Dani calls it an all-natural endeavor that's catching the eye of local businesses. "We have partnered with Piggly Wiggly here in town, and we have already diverted over 6 tons of wasted food from the landfill."
The goal is to provide fresh food to social service agencies like 'Meals on Wheels,' then branch out to hospitals, schools and businesses. "I feel like we're a community that rallies easily around local downtown, local food, local restaurants;" Growing Oshkosh board member Mandy Potts tells us. "I feel like there's a lot of excitement."
Dani hopes with the backing of a great group of volunteers and donors, Growing Oshkosh's urban garden will be growing early next year. "I really think and I really hope it's going to be a very inviting, alive and vibrant place that people will not only want to go to but take care of."
Work on the urban farm starts on October 6th.
Click here to visit the Growing Oshkosh Facebook page.
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