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An abandoned lot in southeast Atlanta is now a vibrant free food forest, where neighborhood residents can learn about healthy eating while enjoying fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
The food forest spans 7.1 acres, with 2,500 edible and medicinal plants. The land was originally used by pecan farmers, and then rezoned for townhouses. When the property entered foreclosure, the Conservation Fund bought it, and with grant money and help from other organizations, it was transformed into the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill, the nation's largest free food forest.
The forest has nut trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, and herbs, grown in a way that mimics nature, certified arborist Michael McCord said. McCord helps manage the forest, and told CNN everything in the space is "a teachable moment, whether it be trees, trails, bees or vegetables. That's what's most important to me — that we're raising awareness about sustainability and agriculture."
The city-owned and managed forest is in the Browns Mill neighborhood, a food desert where the closest grocery store is 30 minutes away by bus and 1 in 3 residents lives below the poverty line. More than 1,000 volunteers help keep the forest up and running by planting, watering, and harvesting crops. People are asked to only take as much food as needed, to ensure no one goes without. "It's really a park for everyone," Atlanta councilwoman Carla Smith told CNN. "Every time I go, there's a community there who respects and appreciates the fresh healthy foods."
The food forest spans 7.1 acres, with 2,500 edible and medicinal plants. The land was originally used by pecan farmers, and then rezoned for townhouses. When the property entered foreclosure, the Conservation Fund bought it, and with grant money and help from other organizations, it was transformed into the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill, the nation's largest free food forest.
The forest has nut trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables, and herbs, grown in a way that mimics nature, certified arborist Michael McCord said. McCord helps manage the forest, and told CNN everything in the space is "a teachable moment, whether it be trees, trails, bees or vegetables. That's what's most important to me — that we're raising awareness about sustainability and agriculture."
The city-owned and managed forest is in the Browns Mill neighborhood, a food desert where the closest grocery store is 30 minutes away by bus and 1 in 3 residents lives below the poverty line. More than 1,000 volunteers help keep the forest up and running by planting, watering, and harvesting crops. People are asked to only take as much food as needed, to ensure no one goes without. "It's really a park for everyone," Atlanta councilwoman Carla Smith told CNN. "Every time I go, there's a community there who respects and appreciates the fresh healthy foods."
Edited 3 y ago
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 8
Posted 3 y ago
Too bad they couldn't do this in more towns and cities instead of putting in parking lots or more houses that will not have any one in them Lt Col Charlie Brown
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
3 y
Lt Col Charlie Brown The city that I live by is more interested in parking lots, if it doesn't return a dollar or two to them they're not interested in it.
(2)
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Cpl Vic Burk
3 y
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth - That is a big problem with many cities. The tax they can get off a building or parking lot is substantially more than and unimproved lot being used for gardening.
(3)
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SGT Carl Forsman
3 y
Don't get it wrong Sgt David A. 'Cowboy' Groth, Atlanta metro is in a constant building phase of compressing the people. Spaces like this is the closest millions of people will ever see something resembling nature. Of the ITP (inside the perimeter) folks, around 3 to 5 million, 60% of them or more never venture outside of the 285 perimeter and when they do, they have to go more than 50 miles to hit a patch of woods that are not deemed a park. Cutting down tree's is a big deal. One good thing about the area is all of the municipalities around the metro area. I am sure this makes Atlanta look rural in the news when we have big storms and there are tree's killing people and property, thing is the tree's that are on the news are 100+ years old and without competition for nutrients have become very large. With the recent 6 years of around 100 inches of rain a year are toppling all over the place. Because of this situation, I am glad that this space and spaces similar to this are springing up. Most all neighborhoods around Atlanta are hosting community gardens.
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