Food is more than something we eat to survive—it’s a part of how we thrive. And yet the way we produce food today threatens both people and nature, degrading our land and water, accelerating climate change and species loss, and making our farms and fields less productive over time.

Localization reconnects families and communities with nutritious, regenerative, and regionally produced food. For centuries, diverse seasonal crops were grown sustainably to be shared and consumed locally. Industrialism overthrew these local and regional food systems in favor of mass-produced monocultures that are traded and consumed globally.

A movement is underway to relocalize our food. People are joining for many reasons, but chiefly because no other activity encompasses a greater range of benefits for life, health, soil, water, children, and the planet. Localization includes home and community food gardens, farmers’ markets, in-person and internet-based co-ops, community-supported agriculture (CSA), urban farming, and farm-to-table.

Collectively, localization has the potential to transform food systems by supporting regional regenerative agriculture, fairer and shorter supply chains, and local decision-making.

When you plant something and tend it instead of dominating it, you remember who you are. When you grow food, share eggs, swap seeds, check on a neighbor, you stitch yourself back into something bigger. Like mycelium under the forest floor. It remains unseen, but deeply connected.

Paul Avellino

Growing Revolutions

Growing your own garden is considered a revolutionary act because it fosters self-sufficiency, allows for defiance against corporate-controlled food systems, and promotes environmental sustainability. It is a powerful way to take control of your health by eating organic, nutrient-dense food while reducing reliance on industrial, long-distance supply chains. Do you need a place to garden? See the Community Gardens map

Why is gardening viewed as revolutionary?

• Food Sovereignty & Independence: It breaks dependence on supermarkets, reducing vulnerability to food shortages, price hikes, and corporate recalls.
• Environmental Action: It reduces carbon footprints associated with transportation and packaging, minimizes chemical pesticide use, and helps regenerate soil.
• Health and Wellness: Homegrown produce is fresher and more nutritious, leading to better diets, while the act of gardening offers therapeutic, stress-reducing, and educational benefits.
• Reconnection with Nature: It acts as a form of resistance against a fast-paced, digital life, fostering a slower, more intentional lifestyle.

Gleaning

Gleaning is the practice of collecting excess, unharvested, or cosmetically imperfect produce from farms, orchards, and gardens to distribute to those facing food insecurity, bridging the gap between food waste and hunger. This practice is increasingly organized as a mutual aid effort—rooted in community care rather than charity—where volunteers, farmers, and community members work together to share resources.

The Downtown Appleton Farm market is developing a program to collect excess produce at the market this summer. If you want to get involved and volunteer to help get in touch with Mark through our contact form.

Foraging + Wild Crafting

Wildcrafting (also known as foraging) is the practice of collecting plants from their natural, or ‘wild’ habitat, primarily for food or medicinal purposes. It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they may be found, which can include both wilderness areas and urban foraging. We are working growing a resource to wild crafting and local foraging that we will be adding soon.

Supporting Local Food in the Fox Cities

Common Roots Rising is cooperatively growing our awareness of local food, urban foraging, community gardens, urban ecology and regenerative agriculture’s power to regenerate our soils. One of the ideas and initiatives we imagining into being is collectives and networks of gardens, and growers and local food abundance. Check out the growing map of community gardens below and foraging resources coming soon.

We are advocates for collaborative, regenerative, local ecology and growing resilient local food human centered economies within the Fox Cities and Wisconsin

Community Gardens

We are building resources and this map to help all interested growers find access to growing their own food in our region. If you know additional gardens and have more information about local community gardens sharing fresh produce you would like us to add please let us know.

Local Food, Gardens and Farms

Oshkosh Seed Savers
Oshkosh Seed Savers – Oshkosh Seed Savers is a collective of food gardeners and seed savers of the Fox Valley in Wisconsin maintaining a collection of locally adapted garden seed.

The Seed Guild
The Seed Guild is based in Appleton, WI.  They are a collective working to create a more resilient Fox Cities by connecting people with regionally adapted seed resources, educational opportunities and hands on seed stewardship opportunities. They believe that individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels can create a more resilient, healthy, and sustainable community through seed saving.

Little Sweet Flower Farm
Little Sweet Flower Farm is a family-owned flower farm and Wisconsin native plant nursery in Larsen, WI, rooted in land stewardship and guided by nature.

Grow Native Greenville
Grow Native Greenville advocates, provides accessibility and creates action for native plants.

Wild Food Wisconsin
Wild Food Wisconsin is a Facebook Group. It is for anyone interested in Wild Food in Wisconsin.

Wild Ones – Fox Valley Area
Wild Ones Fox Valley Area (WOFVA) continues to celebrate and promote the use of native plants in home and civic landscaping.  We lead the natural landscaping movement in exploring, teaching, and changing the practice of gardening to include the use of native plants.  Join them in helping to restore our natural world. WOFVA serves Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Outagamie, Waushara, Waupaca and Winnebago counties.

Oshkosh Area Local Food / Community Gardens – UW Extension Learners Garden, Sunnyview Community Garden, University Community Gardens, Solutions Recovery Club Garden, Steven’s Park Community Garden – see the Community Gardens map above

Community Gardens in Fox Valley / Oshkosh Area
UW Extension – Winnebago Cty – They are building a map of all community gardens in the Fox Valley and Oshkosh area—and they need your help!

Brown County Community Gardens Program
The Brown Community Garden Program provides garden plot rental and horticulture education for community members of all backgrounds working together to improve food security, alleviate poverty, strengthen relationships, and encourage volunteerism.

Multicultural Coalition Community Garden
You don’t need a green thumb to serve in the community! The Multicultural Coalition needs help building raised beds, watering and weeding plants, harvesting produce, and more!

Produce With Purpose Farm and Market
Produce With Purpose Farm and Market – Kaukauna
Supporting your local food economy should be easy.

Bouressa Family Farm – Weyauwega
At Bouressa Family Farm, they raise 100% grass-fed and finished beef. Their animals are on pasture year-round, with access to fresh grass daily during the warmer months and grassy hay and alfalfa in the winter. 

Farm Markets

Downtown Appleton Farm Market – College Ave. Downtown Appleton. Saturday’s 8 am – 12:30pm, June 6 to October 17, 2026
Visit 100+ local vendors along College Avenue selling locally grown produce, handcrafted items, baked goods, flowers, hot food, coffee, meats and cheese, and so more! Learn more about the Downtown Appleton Farm Market

Courtyard Market – Menasha – Curtis Reed Square, Downtown Menasha. Sunday’s 10am – 2pm, June 14 to August 30, 2026
Come enjoy the fresh air of Downtown Menasha at the Courtyard Market of Menasha each Sunday morning. Their market features a variety of products from local vendors. Explore the beauty that is Downtown Menasha.

Future Neenah Farm Market – Shattuck Park, Neenah, 8 am – Noon June 13 – October 10, 2026
The Future Neenah Farmers Market takes place in Shattuck Park, a waterfront greenspace with stunning views of the marina. Produce, plant, and handmade goods vendors line the circular shape of the park and each market features live music from 10 am – noon.

City of Kaukauna Farmers Market – 101 Crooks Ave. Kaukauna. Wednesdays, 4:30pm – 8:00 pm June 3 – September 30
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (6/3-8/26) and 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (9/2-9/30)
The City of Kaukauna Farmers Market hosts over 30 vendors each week with fresh produce, prepared and preserved foods, and baked items.

Sustain Greenville Farmer’s Market. W6860 Parkview Dr., Greenville, Wednesdays, 3 pm – 6 pm, June 3- September 23
The Sustain Greenville Farmer’s Market is the perfect opportunity for a mid-week produce stock up. Vendor booths will feature produce, crafts, canned goods, and ready to eat food. More than 90% of produce/products sold at the Sustain Greenville Farmer’s Market must be grown or made by that vendor.

Oshkosh Farm Market 400 & 500 Blocks of N Main St. & 100 Block of Church Ave Oshkosh, Saturdays 8 am – 12:30 pm, May 30 to October 31
​Join the excitement at the Oshkosh Farmers Market.  The market features approximately 120 vendors per week (downtown/outdoor/summer), 50+ vendors per week (indoor/winter) and 75+ vendors per week (indoor/Holiday Bazaars), with live music and themed events, there’s sure to be something for everyone! Shop the market (almost) all year-round

Waupaca Farmers Market
The Waupaca Farmers Market is located on East Fulton St. Downtown Waupaca Wisconsin. The market opens mid May and runs every Saturday through October from 9 am-1 pm. 

Local Conservation

Urban Ecology Oshkosh
Urban Ecology Oshkosh is a grassroots group dedicated to environmental education, ecological restoration, and inclusive community building in Northeast Wisconsin.

Sustain Greenville
Sustain Greenville is a volunteer organization that promotes eco-friendly activities that support a sustainable environment. They sponsor the Sustain Greenville Farmers’ Market and several recycling and educational events. You are invited and encouraged to get involved and participate!

Golden Sands
Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council supports sustainable agriculture through assistance with Managed Intensive Grazing, No-Till farming, and neighborhood gardens.

Resources

Moreganic
Moreganic is a certification for building a future where agriculture restores biodiversity, supports local communities, and creates lasting value for everyone involved. We do this by working with nature — through diverse crops, healthy soils, and fewer synthetic inputs — helping forests thrive for the long term.

Permies
Permies is a permaculture and homesteading resource. Most folks that come to Permies are interested in the permaculture and homesteading community.

Regeneration: Localization
Learn about the benefits of localization. In developed nations, agriculture remained largely local until the advent of railroads, followed by the refrigeration of produce and the development of long-haul trucking, all of which opened up distant markets. Food became a commodity, and age-old relationships between people and their food broke down. 

Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute is growing the regenerative organic movement through research, farmer training, and consumer education.

Kiss the Ground
Kiss the Ground is awakening people to the possibilities of regeneration.

Wisconsin Farmers Union
The effects of climate change are becoming clear across rural America. Food security, a healthy landscape, climate mitigation, and a prosperous rural America can only be attained through a strong family farm system of agriculture. Get involved with Wisconsin Farmers Union.

Grassworks
For nearly thirty years, managed grazing has been a foundation of the sustainable agriculture movement in the upper Midwest and we are proud of the role that GrassWorks has played in its development. We provide leadership, education and resources for grass-based farmers and regional organizations that support graziers.

Carbon storage isn’t soil’s only superpower; the ways that soil stands to positively impact the lives of billions worldwide are tangible and immediate: replenished water cycles, restored fertility, and regenerated ecosystems.

Kiss the Ground