When former basketballer Will Allen spotted an abandoned city plot, he imagined a giant table heaped with fresh vegetables and enough food to feed everyone on Earth. With imagination and problem-solving, teaching and tenacity, can farmer Will Allen bring his dreams to life?
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table
Discuss the Book
Planting and Picking
Pages 1–8
- Important Moment: Will’s family grows most of their own food. Will loves the food itself, but hates the work of planting and picking it, plus pulling all the weeds.
- Ask and Share: What kind of work does it take to grow your own food? Do you think the work is worth it? What are some chores around your home that feel hard or boring? Are they worth the payoff?
Healthy Soil
Pages 9–13
- Important Moment: Will buys an abandoned urban lot and is determined to start farming it. But the soil is polluted. Will calls on his friends to save their food waste so hecan make compost and new, healthier soil.
- Ask and Share: What is the problem with the lot Will buys? How does he solve the problem? Who can you turn to when you have a problem? Can you think of ways you’ve helped others with problems?
The Red Wiggler Crew
Pages 14–17
- Important Moment: The red wiggler worms that break down compost are dying! Will and a group of students set out to find out which foods are good—and bad—for the worms.
- Ask and Share: Why is the “Red Wiggler Crew” important? If you were at the farm, what would be your hypothesis (educated guess) about why the worms were dying? How might you test your idea (examples: observe, research, experiment)?
Thinking Big
Pages 18–26
- Important Moment: Will wants to make his imaginary table of food bigger for the world to share. He travels the globe, teaches, and shares his message: everyone can farm, even in cities.
- Ask and Share: What does Will want people like you and me to know? How would you explain Will’s message to a friend or family member? Does the book make you feel inspired to act? How?