Growing a Healthier Memphis: New Community Garden Campaign
Our goal is improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income residents living in our city. The community garden will become an active space for programs and activities for residents.
Leader
Ashley Atkins
Location
258 N. Merton Street Memphis, TN 38112
About the project
GrowMemphis’ mission is to help communities build gardens to improve access to locally grown food in their neighborhoods. By giving residents of low-income neighborhoods the training and resources that they need, GrowMemphis increases access to healthy affordable fruits and vegetables while creating a sustainable local food system. GrowMemphis currently has 44 community gardens in 11 Memphis zip codes – growing food in over 60,000 square feet of previously underutilized space. Your donation will help us start new community gardens in the next 3 months.
With your help, GrowMemphis will provide the training, planning, support, and resources needed for gardens to thrive. With your donation, new gardens will receive:
· First year garden tools, supplies, and infrastructure;
· Ongoing assistance in garden planning, coordination, and installation;
· Annual Community Gardening 101- Comprehensive training in urban agriculture and community building;
· Monthly network and training opportunities with the GrowMemphis network of community gardeners;
· Seeds and starter plants (annually);
· Ongoing technical assistance (GrowMemphis Staff site visits, training, evaluation, support and services); and
· Collaborative services such as volunteer coordination, farmers market sales, in-kind donations of tools and supplies and more!
The Steps
IMMEDIATE STEPS: This includes planning the garden layout, choosing crops, helping to train community leaders and raising start-up funding for each community center. Gardens will grow food for the community including: corn, sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, green beans, peppers, legumes, beets, carrots, turnips, and much more! We will then purchase the supplies and tools needed for each new garden, including the plants that we need to get started.
OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS: In the coming months, we will help the new gardens get started by:
· Recruiting volunteers;
· Helping engage community members;
· Providing training and technical assistance to garden leaders;
· Raising the remaining funds; and
Breaking ground on all of our new gardens.
Why we‘re doing it
This project will help low-income residents grow their own fresh, healthy food. In addition, gardens will help engage residents, beautify neighborhoods, teach young people, and increase overall health and wellness.