Influential Urban Farmer Will Allen to Visit Columbus, Ohio July 15, 2011

Growing Power founder will offer hands-on workshops, keynote address at newest ROTC (Regional Outreach Training Center) the Stiletto Gardener Inc.

COLUMBUS, OH � Celebrated urban food garden pioneer Will Allen, chosen as one of Time magazine�s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2010, will share his urban agriculture expertise with Columbus during two public workshops and a keynote speech.

Allen is a national advocate for sustainable, localized food systems. He founded Growing Power, a Milwaukee urban farm and training center, to encourage low-income, urban residents who often don�t have access to fresh food to grow their own, in gardens built from inexpensive materials. Allen gained national acclaim in 2008, when he was awarded a prestigious "genius" grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Allen is also a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, founded by former President Bill Clinton to address the world�s most pressing problems, including sustainability and health.

"If people can grow safe, healthy, affordable food, if they have access to land and clean water, this is transformative on every level in a community," Allen said. "I believe we cannot have healthy communities without a healthy food system."

Allen will speak about urban agriculture during a keynote address at 6 p.m. Friday, July 15, 2011 at Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43203. Columbus residents will get a chance to meet Allen during a meet-and-greet session before the keynote speech. Tickets are $35, or $40 at the door. Meet-and-greet tickets are $50, and will include the keynote. Tickets are available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/174498.

In addition to the keynote address, Allen will also share his expertise during two hands-on training seminars from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 16th and 17th at his latest ROTC , the Stiletto Gardener at 6147 Olde Orchard Drive, Columbus, Ohio. Allen will lead workshops on hoop house building, composting, aquaponics, vermiculture, and microgreen production. Tickets for these seminars are $170 per person, including lunch and a free pass to the keynote address, and can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/174498.

Please contact Ameena Salahuddin via email (ameena@stilettogardener.com), CEO of the Stiletto Gardener for an in-person interview with Mr. Allen during his visit.

http://www.stilettogardener.com/

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