Atlanta Creates Nation's Largest 'Food Forest'

ATLANTA -- The city council has approved the transformation of more than seven acres of southwest Atlanta land into the nation's largest food forest. On Monday, the council unanimously approved turning the land, near the Lakewood Fairgrounds and Browns Mill Golf Course, into a public park and garden. The legislation was sponsored by District 1 councilwoman Carla Smith, who has been a longtime advocate for green, environmentally conscious measures.

Smith told the AJC the food forest is also the first in Georgia.

According to the bill, which can be read here, people will be able to pick their own produce from trees and plants that will be in the park. The project is being partly funded by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program.

Trees Atlanta will manage, staff and maintain the project, as well as raise money and apply for additional grants.

In 2003, while working with the city’s environmental affairs department, Smith established Atlanta’s first Electronic Waste Recycling Day, and event that became Atlanta’s largest recycling event. In 2010, the event expanded and became "EcoDepot", an event which includes responsible disposal of electronics and other hard-to-recycle materials such as tires and household hazardous waste.

In 2014, Smith and City Councilman Alex Wan co-authored legislation to enter into a partnership with LiveThrive Atlanta to establish a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, Atlanta's first full-service recycling center.

"The Browns Mill Urban Food Forest will not only provide a food source but help foster a connection to cultural and social history through planting and harvesting for years to come," Smith said.

Last month, Lyft announced a partnership with the city's One Atlanta Office to make it easier for families living in Atlanta's "food deserts" (under-resourced communities) to access nutritious groceries. The pilot program will provide some affected residents with heavily discounted Lyft rideshare credits to nearby farmers markets and grocery stores.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), food deserts are defined as low-income communities lacking a one-mile radius to the closest supermarket or grocery store. In a 2017 report, 36% of Atlanta was classified as a food desert. By population in 2018, approximately 128,000 or 25% of Atlanta residents have to travel more than a half-mile to access fresh fruit and vegetables.

For the duration of the six-month pilot, Lyft will provide 300 families with eight rides per month (four trips to and from participating grocery stores) for a flat $2 fee up to $10.