Nashville Welcomes The Giving Grove
The Giving Grove is expanding its impactful urban orchard program to Nashville, Tennessee, through a new partnership with The Nashville Food Project. The collaboration aims to provide long-term, sustainable sources of free, fresh fruits, nuts, and berries to communities across Nashville, with planting set to begin in early 2025.
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Growing Food Access through Community Orchards
Since its founding in 2013, The Giving Grove has worked to equip neighborhoods with the resources and skills to grow their own fresh food, particularly in areas where access to healthy produce is limited. By supporting volunteers in planting and caring for urban orchards, we promote food security and environmental health in cities across the country. With over 600 orchards in 16 cities across the nation, The Giving Grove continues to expand its reach, impacting communities nationwide.
The Power of Partnership: Joining Forces with The Nashville Food Project
In Nashville, The Giving Grove will partner with The Nashville Food Project to plant new orchards and maintain existing ones. This partnership aligns perfectly with The Nashville Food Project’s mission to grow, cook, and share nourishing food. Their citywide network of community farms and gardens, combined with Giving Grove's expertise in urban orchards, will significantly increase the availability of fresh, locally grown food for Nashvillians.
“We are thrilled to welcome The Nashville Food Project into our national network! Much consideration and thought went into the development of this partnership, which will surely result in a successful and sustainable program for the Nashville community,” said Ashley Williamson, Co-Executive Director of The Giving Grove. “We are ready to support their team as they become another hub for little orchards that benefit people and the planet.”
The Benefits of Urban Orchards
The impact of a typical Giving Grove orchard is significant. An orchard can produce over 7,500 servings of free, fresh food annually, valued at over $6,300. Beyond food production, these orchards offer numerous environmental benefits, including sequestering carbon, improving air quality, intercepting stormwater, and stabilizing urban soil. The Giving Grove’s vision is to create thousands of such orchards across the U.S., forming a community-based, local food production system that can nourish people for generations.
Ensuring Nourishment for All Nashvillians
C.J. Sentell, CEO of The Nashville Food Project, echoed the excitement about the partnership: “This collaboration with The Giving Grove allows us to expand our community agriculture model to include orchards, grown in collaboration with other organizations across the city. Together, we can ensure nourishing food reaches all Nashvillians.”
A Vision for Sustainable Food Systems
The Giving Grove’s expansion into Nashville is yet another step toward realizing its mission of planting "little orchards" in neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity across the country. With a strong network of volunteers and partners, the organization is poised to continue its growth, bringing the benefits of urban orchards to even more communities.
To learn more about The Nashville Food Project, visit www.thenashvillefoodproject.org.