The Nashville Food Project’s Blog
Together, their rhythm has been simple and steady. One experimenting. One anchoring. Both caring deeply about the meals that leave the kitchen.
At The Nashville Food Project, we are building the infrastructure that makes nourishment predictable and dignified. This is proactive work. It happens in kitchens designed to recover surplus and prepare consistent meals. It happens in gardens where neighbors grow food that reflects their cultures and preferences. It happens in partnerships that align farmers, clinics, agencies, and volunteers toward shared outcomes.
Through farming, she has been able to grow and share produce in ways that connect her more deeply to community. Food has opened doors. It has introduced her to people she might never have met otherwise. It has created opportunities to teach others about the importance of caring for the Earth with intention and respect.
Food, for Bianca, has always been a connector. A way to show care. A way to build community. A way to express love when words fall short. Her life has been shaped by faith, purpose, and a deep belief that what we make with our hands can change what happens in the world.
Community orchards are long-term investments. They ask us to think beyond a single growing season and consider what sustained nourishment can look like over time. Once established, this orchard will provide fresh fruit for community partners and neighbors, while also serving as a shared space for learning, connection, and stewardship.
Nourish 2025 was a powerful celebration of food, community, and connection. From a beautifully collaborative meal prepared by top chefs to stories that highlighted the heart of our mission, the evening brought people together around a shared table and a shared purpose—to nourish Nashville.
Red Clover & Carrot Cupcakes
The Nashville Food Project’s Sustainability Team invited the wise Leah Larabell of High Garden Tea to join our staff meeting and lead us in a session of ethical wildcrafting. Naturally, we served snacks too including these Red Clover and Carrot Cupcakes. We’re sharing the recipe (from Elke) with a bit of Leah’s advice too.
Earlier this summer, The Nashville Food Project’s Sustainability Team invited the wise Leah Larabell of High Garden Tea to join our staff meeting and lead us in a session of ethical wildcrafting. Naturally, we served snacks too including these Red Clover and Carrot Cupcakes made by Elke Hoffman, Operations and Sustainability Manager. We’re sharing her recipe below along with this bit of wisdom from Leah who reminded us that we’re not only in nature but of nature.
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
- Aldo Leopold
Red Clover and Carrot Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 cup shredded carrots
2/3 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons clover honey
3/4 red clover flowers (washed & segmented)
2 large eggs
3/4 cups self-raising flour
3/4 cups almond flour ( can just use all self rising flour, but the almond flour compliments to the clover well)
1 Heaped tsp baking powder.
For the icing:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup clover honey
1/2 cup red or white clover flowers (washed & segmented)
1/4 cup powdered sugar (not necessary, but can be added for a sweeter taste)
20 clover flowers washed and left whole to top cupcakes
What to do:
Preheat Oven 350 degrees.
Grease mini muffin tins (regular muffin tins can be used, but cook times may vary).
Wash and finely grate the carrots.
Measure the oil and sugar into a bowl, add the segmented clover heads and beat in the eggs.
Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl and add the grated carrot. Fold the flour and carrot into the oil, sugar, clover and eggs.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tins and bake in the pre-heated oven for 11-13 minutes until the cupcakes are firm and well risen. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, and then turn onto a cooling rack.
Whip the heavy whipping cream on high, slowly adding the clover segments and honey while it whips. You want it to be pretty stiff but be careful not to over whip.
Pipe the clover icing on top of the cupcakes, and add clover flowers on top for additional color and flavor.
Recipe inspired by this version from Huffington Post.