Nashville Food Project plants food forest at Mill Ridge Park

The Nashville Food Project began planting a food forest of more than 200 fruit trees and berry brambles at Mill Ridge Park in Antioch, expanding its Community Farm that has served the area since 2019.

The Nashville Food Project has begun planting a food forest at Mill Ridge Park in the Antioch area. The project adds more than 200 fruit trees and berry brambles to the organization's Community Farm, which has served the neighborhood since 2019 as its largest urban agriculture site. Volunteers started work on Friday, March 27, digging holes, planting trees and mulching around the area. The new planting sits behind an old house within Mill Ridge Park near Old Hickory Boulevard and is intended to sit adjacent to existing community garden plots. Key facts: - The project adds more than 200 fruit trees and berry brambles to the Mill Ridge Community Farm site. - The Community Farm has served Antioch since 2019 and is described as the Nashville Food Project's largest urban agriculture site. - Volunteers began planting on March 27, performing planting and mulching tasks at the park site. - The food forest will include a mix of native and non-native species, with offerings reported to include blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, peaches, pears, pawpaws, tart cherries, figs, mulberries, pecan and chestnut. - TNFP plans to plant the first 10 community orchards in low-income, low-access neighborhoods across the city by the end of 2027 and to train dozens of community orchard stewards. A more traditional orchard planted by the Friends of Mill Ridge Park is located nearby. Summary: The food forest addition is intended to increase the variety and resilience of fruit-bearing plants available at Mill Ridge Park while complementing nearby orchard space. Planting has started and TNFP has stated plans to expand a network of community orchards and train stewards through 2027, with recruitment and volunteer opportunities reported as being listed online.