Local churches and neighbors built food gardens to feed this historic community after Middle Tennessee suffered the tornadoes of 2020.  ..read more

Explore the Bellevue Edible Learning Lab - a Nashville food and sustainability hub ..read more

They teach life skills like growing food and civic responsibility to under-resourced youth in Jackson, TN.  Photo via Keep My Hood Good Keep My Hood Good seeks to break the cycle of generational poverty in Jackson, Tennessee. Through structured activities, KMHG promotes personal, civic, and community responsibility for underserved, underprivileged youth. Ms. Juanita Jones began this program in 2009. At the time, she transported children as part of Jay & Jai Transportation. They told her about their hopes, dreams, and concerns. Ms. Jones felt called in a greater way to help them o ..read more

“We DIG South Memphis.” Photo by Green Leaf Learning Farm Green Leaf Learning Farm is one of only two USDA-certified organic farms in South Memphis. It has provided free educational programming to children in its area for 25 years. GLLF belongs to a larger program called Knowledge Quest - a vision of its founder, Marlon Foster. The farm sits on 30 vacant neighborhood lots and provides fresh produce for what was a food desert.  Mr. Foster grew up in Memphis. He is the fourth generation of his family to do so. Knowledge Quest seeks to empower young people to live and thrive in an ..read more

An organization that fights food insecurity and promotes healthy living in Knox County, Tennessee.  Photo by the Knox Garden Alliance “We are a community-driven organization dedicated to fighting and eliminating food insecurity and promoting healthy living. Our initiative focuses on building community gardens, educating our members on gardening and healthy living, and distributing fresh produce to the community. Through our programs and partnerships, we seek to create a sense of community, purpose, and hope.  Photo by Knox Garden Alliance We plan to track the total number of po ..read more

A powerhouse for an equitable food system Photo by NWTNLFN The NorthWest Tennessee Local Food Network first began its work on March 01, 2016. This grassroots organization set upon its mission to "catalyze a thriving and equitable local food system that is accessible to all in Northwest TN.” They accomplish this mission through a litany of local programs.  Photo by NWTNLFN Some of their programs include connecting regional farmers’ markets, managing their Farm to School (F2S) initiative, spotlighting locally grown food through their “Taste of Tennessee”, and more. NWTN LFN takes ..read more

Located at the Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, TN Photo by Outdoor Murfreesboro Find several community gardens near Tennessee’s geographical center. Visit Oaklands Community Garden at Oaklands Mansion for some fun-filled soil time. Riley Steveson leads the garden and accepts volunteers every Monday from 10a - 12p.  Photo by Autumn Shultz Murfreesboro City administrates the grounds through the Outdoor Murfreesboro initiative. OM is a branch of Murfreesboro City Government that focuses on outdoor adventure, conservation, and adventure recreation.  Photo by Autumn Shultz They ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 13 First Published at Cultured Image by Lisic via Shutterstock Voluntary associations persist today. Rather than competing for resources and hoarding, we thrive most when we work together to meet real, human needs now. Alas, these oppressive systems established themselves before you or I ever came into this world. A better world is possible, though, and it’s within our collective power to achieve that. Success need not come at the expense of others; let's thrive together. Also, we need not begin anew. Let's build on what we have already, too. We saw how th ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 12 First Published at Cultured Photo of Brooklyn Heights Community Garden by JM Heatherly Garden Design by Nashville Foodscapes Community gardens bring another solution to hunger in food deserts, a form of mutual aid most dear to us here. Any one may share space and practice how to grow food, build community through their relationships, and share the harvests. Great spaces include churches, libraries, nursing homes, balconies, apartment grounds, rooftops, abandoned swimming pools, trailheads and more! One would be hard-pressed to miss the obvious benefits ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 11 First Published at Cultured Community fridges serve the needs of low-income and/or limited mobility people who live long walks from accessible sources of good food — in food deserts. Individuals or groups may organize a community fridge in a public place, and they share the responsibility of keeping it stocked. The fridges go great at a free store, school, studio, church, or library. Check out @tncommgard partner organizations, Hope Community Fridge of Chattanooga, TN. We provide free food to the fine folks of East Brainerd. Big Sycamore Farm of Decatur ..read more