Gardens are the place where food begins. From sowing to harvest, growing our own food connects us more deeply to the land, our food system, and each other. Our gardens are vibrant urban ecosystems where community members gather to learn from each other and grow nourishing food for themselves and their families.
“Being outside and among things that are growing from the ground is less and less common in the modern world. So to get your hands in the dirt and to come back week after week and watch things slowly turn into bigger, fruitful things, and to watch some things not grow the way we’d hoped, that whole process feels very refreshing.”
Community Gardens
McGruder Community Garden in North Nashville and the Community Farm at Mill Ridge in Antioch connect people of all ages with the resources they need — from land and water to seeds and education — to grow food that is fresh, healthy, and culturally relevant. Both gardens use regenerative agriculture practices to grow produce that is shared with community members who lack reliable access to fresh produce.
What We Accomplished Together
285
individual volunteers
seeded, weeded, harvested and more in our gardens
1,666
hours volunteered between three garden sites
10,757
pounds of produce grown and shared in community
52
individual garden
plots occupied at 100% capacity
Growing Together
Growing Together is an urban farm stewarded by Burmese and Bhutanese farmers who came to Nashville as immigrants and refugees. The program connects farmers with land, resources, agricultural training, and market access so that they can generate income for themselves and their families. In 2023, the seven Growing Together farming families sold produce to restaurants, food access partner organizations, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) customers.
Farm Highlights
In October, the Love, Tito’s team visited the Growing Together farm to celebrate their gift of a new greenhouse, which will enable farmers to extend their growing season and expand their skills through full-season production.
Tito’s also helped us beautify the farm by planting a pollinator garden, fruit trees, and berry bushes, as well as installing new water catchment structures to harvest water throughout the year.
