In the summer of 2015, I met Victory Garden Initiative (VGI) volunteering as a farmhand in the garden. I came back a year later, in 2016, as their creative intern. Through my year at VGI, I created posters for two of their fundraising events, The Community FarmRaiser and The Fruity Nutty Affair.
These were first created by hand painting the imagery. The second step was to scan the artwork and add the details digitally. This process allowed VGI to keep the artwork for their office while having a beautiful poster and an adjustable advertisement for a number of years.
As I worked with VGI, we decided that we wanted to create a piece of apparel that reflects the company’s ideas and favorite catch phrase, “This is a grassroots movement. Move grass, grow food.”
I took my knowledge of screen-printing and sewing to execute the final product. When I was finished, I had a crowd pleasing gardening apron for VGI to sell during their fundraiser events.
Finally, VGI wanted to turn their large rain barrel into something that serves more than its functional purposes. The final decision? Their rain barrel now proudly displays a mural of the rain system and its functions.
Who is Victory Garden Initiative?
Victory Garden Initiative is an integral part of reshaping Milwaukee’s physical and cultural landscape. With VGI’s help, backyards are turned into productive vegetable beds and flower plots. A corner of River West has been transformed into a community garden that is not only a gathering spot for those who live near by and those who tend to it, but takes a food dessert and creates a food forest every Spring, Summer and Fall. Their importance to the community they serve grows every year. A stronger community is built through programs like these and they are so important to support.
To visit Victory Garden Initiative’s page directly and see what they’re up to, click here.