More Than Seven Acres of Atlanta Urban Land Becomes U.S. Largest Free Food Forest

• Food security is being realized through edible food forests in the U.S.
• Atlanta has the biggest food forest with 7.1 acres of pesticide-free edible and medicinal plants.
• Volunteers maintain the forest in Atlanta and harvested food is distributed among its community members.

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Take note of the statistics in Atlanta: 1 in 4 Atlantans live in conditions called “supermarket redlining”; 1 in 6 Georgians face food security; and 1 in 3 residents of Browns Mill live below the poverty line.

So, when a once idle pecan farm in the Browns Mill neighborhood was closed, rezoned and planned for townhouses and still did not come true, the Conservation Fund bought it to be converted into a free food forest in 2016.  By making this move, this would be a step to address the alarming numbers and help in food security.

The 7.1-acre land which is just 10 minutes away from the world’s busiest airport before pandemic, is now a forest of 2,500 pesticide-free edible and medicinal plants.  A US Forest Service grant has allowed this thriving forest to happen.

According to certified arborist and expert edible landscaper Michael McCord, part of their mission is to provide access to green space and healthy foods. McCord also helps in managing the forest. 

More than 1,000 volunteers and neighbors, plant, water, and maintain the forest which is now owned by the parks department. More than 50 volunteers work in the forest in a single day.

Atlanta City councilwoman Carla Smith who helped in starting the project said that the volunteers who help maintain the forest is proof of how the forest has created a community. She said that it is a park for everyone.

“Every time I go there’s a community there who respects and appreciates the fresh healthy foods. There’s a mentality there that people know to only take what they need,” Smith added.

Community members are the priority when food is harvested and the food that is not in plots are harvested by the forest volunteers before being distributed.

For now, there are at least 70 free food forests in the U.S. where thousands of foods are harvested annually. Edible urban forests are taking ground in the country.

McCord said, “Everything out of a park 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.”

Source: CNN