The Atlanta Food Forest: A Community Oasis for Fresh, Free Food
- Thomas Nelson
- January 29, 2025
- Uncategorized
- 0 Comments
Imagine a place where fresh fruit, nuts, and herbs grow freely—where anyone can walk in and pick what they need, no questions asked. That’s exactly what the Atlanta Food Forest offers. Nestled in the Browns Mill neighborhood of southeast Atlanta, this 7.1-acre oasis is the largest free food forest in the country and a game-changer for food access in the city.
The Atlanta Food Forest is a pesticide-free, community-driven urban farm filled with over 2,500 edible and medicinal plants. It’s a living, breathing solution to food insecurity, offering fresh, free produce to residents in an area where the nearest grocery store is a 30-minute bus ride away.
How Did It Start?
The land wasn’t always meant to be a food forest. It was once a pecan farm, then rezoned for townhouses. But when development plans fell through, the lot sat in foreclosure. That’s when The Conservation Fund stepped in, purchasing the land in 2016 with help from a U.S. Forest Service grant and partners like Trees Atlanta and the City of Atlanta. Their mission? Turn this unused land into something meaningful.
Food deserts are a major problem in Atlanta, where 1 in 4 residents struggles with food access. The Browns Mill community is particularly affected, with 1 in 3 residents living below the poverty line. The Food Forest provides a sustainable, long-term way to tackle food insecurity.
It’s also a hub for education and community building. Local schools bring students for field trips, and volunteers—over 1,000 strong—help plant, water, and maintain the space. As Michael McCord, one of the forest’s managers, remarked: “For many kids, it’s their first time seeing a farm or garden up close. They get to experience urban agriculture in action.”
How Does It Work?
The forest is open to the public, but with a community-first approach. Visitors are encouraged to take only what they need, ensuring everyone gets a fair share. Volunteers help harvest and distribute food grown in certain plots, making sure the fresh produce reaches the people who need it most.
Atlanta’s Food Forest is part of a larger movement to make urban spaces more edible. Over 70 free food forests now exist in cities like Seattle, Portland, and Asheville, proving that urban agriculture is not just possible—it’s essential.
More than just a food source, the Atlanta Food Forest is a park, a classroom, and a community builder all in one. As former city councilwoman Carla Smith puts it: “Every time I visit, I see a community that respects and appreciates this space. It’s truly a park for everyone.”
With volunteers, city leaders, and neighbors working together, the Atlanta Food Forest is a model for the future of sustainable cities—one where food is fresh, free, and for all.
