Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill

Our Impact Our Projects Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill

Atlanta’s urban food forest is the first of its kind in the city, providing fresh produce in a community that has limited access to affordable, healthy foods.

The Conservation Fund, the city of Atlanta’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience and Department of Parks and Recreation, and Trees Atlanta partnered with local residents to create a new kind of public park — a park you can eat! Atlanta’s first food forest is just starting to grow, but is already providing fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables to the community it serves.

A Comprehensive Approach to Conservation

The food forest approaches conservation through the concept of agriforestry — using agriculture that integrates trees and shrubs with food production to create healthy and ecologically resilient landscapes. The aim is to select native trees and plants that produce nutritious foods while also providing resources to local wildlife and pollinator species, capturing stormwater and mitigating flooding, filtering air and water, and creating a more sustainable urban landscape.

Why This Project Matters

The food forest is just four miles south of Atlanta’s city center. The 7.1-acre food forest property was once a small family farm that helped nourish the local community. Abandoned and neglected for many years, the farm’s history is still visible, with several large pecan trees, blackberry brambles, and muscadine vines that now grow wild across the land. Working with residents and a variety of stakeholders, TCF has helped steward the creation of a community-driven concept plan that includes community garden beds, a fruit and nut orchard, herb gardens, walking trails and gathering spaces. Partners and residents are currently working together to implement the plan and bring new food resources to an area in need of fresh and healthy foods.

We partnered with Greening Youth Foundation to develop a workforce development training program that would be instrumental in building the food forest. Program participants received stipends along with soft and hard skills training in an effort to prepare them for potential green job opportunities. Participants also actively engaged in on-site programming focused on agricultural and environmental education for all ages. Work like this would not be possible without the support of our partners.

The Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill is currently the largest public food forest in the country and serves as a model for integrating food resources into equitable park development plans in order to provide long-term benefits for local communities.

Community Benefits

Vacant and neglected land is being transformed into a community asset that provides a safe place for kids to play and families to gather.
Community members have been provided greater access to fresh, nutritious food; 30 new community garden beds and more than 100 fruit trees have been planted so far.
Educational programs, including gardening and cooking classes, are encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.
Local residents have participated in paid workforce training opportunities and several are currently employed at the food forest.
More than 1,000 residents, students and corporate partners have volunteered to date and there are ongoing opportunities for participation.
Partnerships with area schools have already brought hundreds of students to the food forest for STEM-based outdoor learning and environmental education.
Native plants, area wildlife, tree canopy and an on-site stream are now protected. Invasive species are being removed and native plants are being restored to the forest and along the stream.
Walking trails now provide opportunities for exercise and recreational activities such as birdwatching and foraging.