Victory Garden Initiative wants to create leaders in the sustainable food movement and is currently accepting applicants and sponsors for their inaugural educational and certification program that begins February 24. The course seeks to teach people how to lead community gardening and food systems projects and events. Training includes a weekend retreat, as well as one to two Saturday morning classes per month through December 2012, and results in a Food Leader Certificate. Program participants will understand food systems, employ permaculture principles to grow food, organize their community and implement ongoing local food cultivation.

The mission of the Victory Garden Initiative is to empower communities to grow food and reawaken our intimate relationship with human and food ecology, advancing a resilient food culture from soil to seed to plate and back to soil. Executive Director Gretchen Mead comments, “This program is a rare opportunity to meet others and create new food systems in greater Milwaukee. Food Leaders will implement their learning with real projects sponsored by Victory Garden Initiative.” She adds that this inaugural certification effort is being sponsored by donors, making the training available for $200, a price far below cost.

Location: 1700 E. Olive St., Shorewood. For registration and sponsorship information, visit VictoryGardenInitiative.org before Feb. 24.