Last fall, we shared our vision for The Nashville Food Project's Community Agriculture Network (CAN)—a collective of community gardens and small-scale urban farms working together to grow food and share resources across the city. This initiative is a key part of our broader mission to cultivate community and alleviate hunger throughout Nashville.
Today, we're thrilled to announce the Community Agriculture Network (CAN) is officially live! This milestone marks the beginning of a deeper, more connected approach to community-based agriculture across our city. And it's already bearing fruit.
What Is the Community Agriculture Network?
The Community Agriculture Network (CAN) is a collaboration of growing spaces—community gardens, church plots, urban farms, and orchards—each managed by trusted leaders in their respective communities. These sites are independently managed but supported by TNFP through shared tools, technical assistance, access to seed and compost, and a network of volunteers and educators.
Rooted in a hub-and-spoke model, TNFP serves as the "hub," providing the backbone infrastructure—training, coordination, and technical support—so each community "spoke" can thrive in its own unique way.
Whether it is a refugee grower, a pastor, a long-time resident, or a youth leader at the helm, each garden reflects the culture, needs, and leadership of its neighborhood.
This work stems from a simple yet radical belief: healthy food is a human right—not a privilege. Community-grown food can be a powerful solution to hunger, health inequities, and social disconnection.
Current Community Agriculture Network (CAN) sites include:
Community Farm at Mill Ridge (Antioch)
McGruder Community Garden (North Nashville)
Growing Together Farm & Market (Haywood)
Alameda Christian Church Garden (Bordeaux)
South End United Methodist Church Garden (South Nashville)
Welcoming Our First Two Partner Gardens
Two of our newest network members are church-based sites that share our belief in food as a ministry of care and community:
Alameda Christian Church Garden. This Bordeaux site began with a clear call from the congregation: use the land to feed the community. Since joining the network, Alameda has become a space where herbs, tomatoes, and leafy greens thrive—shared through both ministry meals and informal neighborhood distributions. TNFP has helped with bed design, seedling starts, and volunteer coordination.
South End United Methodist Church Garden. At South End, the church's mission to serve neighbors led them to start a garden that's now blossoming with produce and possibility. With support from TNFP—think compost delivery, irrigation guidance, and a few muddy workdays—the garden now grows food for congregants, local pantries, and fellowship gatherings. It has become a space where people gather not just to work but to connect.
We're deeply grateful to these church teams—and to TNFP Staff Members Cacey and Patty—for the dedication, joy, and hard work that brought these gardens to life.
How the Network Works
Through the Community Agriculture Network (CAN), TNFP provides partner gardens with:
Volunteer recruitment and coordination
Site planning, infrastructure & compost support
Garden leader training
Outreach and educational programming
Produce distribution & market strategies
Access to tools, seeds, compost, and water
Help with storytelling, fundraising & grant writing
We also support individual growers at McGruder and Mill Ridge with plot sizes and fees designed to make gardening truly accessible. Gardeners can grow for themselves, their families, or their communities—no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.
Want to Get Involved?
There are so many ways to dig in—literally.
🌿 Volunteer. All sites welcome volunteers. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a first-time gardener, there's a place for you in our gardens.
🌿 Rent a Plot. Looking to grow your own food? We have rental plots available at both McGruder and Mill Ridge.
🌿 Become a Partner Garden. We're now accepting applications for new garden partners to join the network in 2026. Applications are accepted at any time, with priority given to those submitted by August 1, 2025. Click here to apply now →
A Growing Future
In a city where many residents still live in neighborhoods with limited food access, this is about more than just gardens. It's about creating a stronger, more resilient food system rooted in the neighborhoods and faith communities of Nashville.
And we are just getting started. We hope you'll join us in cultivating a food system where everyone has a seat at the table—and a hand in growing what's on it.