2007 Nashville Lawn and Garden Show
Thursday – Saturday, 10a-8p. Sunday, 10a-5p.
Tennessee State Fairgrounds

We Are What We Eat
Transforming Our Community through the Abundance of Healthy, Locally-Grown Food

Be a part of the growing excitement of reconnecting to the source of our food. As individuals and groups, we are committed to the beauty and health of local family and community farming, to empower both those who grow and those who eat.

Come meet local farmers, growers, community gardeners and other people who are actively working to provide safe, nutritious food for all. Some of the garden participants sharing these ideas include:

• ACTS, Incorporated
• Avalon Acres Farm
• Bugtussle Organic Farm
• Doe Run Farms
• DW Farms
• EarthMatters Tennessee
• Eaton’s Creek Organics
• ECO-Gardens CSA
• Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee
• Franklin Farmers’ Market
• Friends of The Nashville Farmers’ Market
• Good Food for Good People – a Truth and Reconciliation Project
• GROW Nashville – Community Gardens
• Hill and Hollow Farm
• Long Hungry Creek Farm
• Madison Creek Farms
• Mamushi Nature Farm
• Nashville Farmers’ Market
• Nashville Urban Harvest
• Tennessee Organic Growers Association (TOGA)

At 6p.m. on Thursday, March 1st, “The Future of Food” will be screened – available to all in attendance. The film is being presented by Journey to Bliss Raw Foods.

The Tennessee Organic Growers Association (TOGA) is holding its 3rd annual conference on Saturday, March 3rd, on the campus of Tennessee State University.

Eliot Coleman, an expert organic grower, author, and advocate for organic and sustainable farming practices, is the day’s featured speaker. In addition to Mr. Coleman’s keynote address, a complete lineup of workshops and presentations round out the event.

TOGA’s mission is to provide research and support for organic farmers and gardeners and to nurture relationships among local producers and consumers. The goal is to educate the public regarding the connection between healthy food, organic farming, and the economic, social, and ecological benefits of supporting local growers.

The official public unveiling of the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee will take place on Friday, February 23, 2007, from 8A to 10A, at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee was founded in August 2006 with support from the LifeWorks Foundation and the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies, with the aim of bringing people together to create and sustain a secure and healthy food system for Middle Tennessee, from production to consumption.

At present, the effort consists of more than thirty Food Security Partners representing all parts of the food system, from farm to fork – including farmers, community gardeners, food processors, food distributors, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, food banks, food advocates, nutrition and health experts, schools and universities, government, faith-based groups, volunteer groups, neighborhoods, and concerned individuals.

Mark Winne, co-founder of the Community Food Security Coalition, will be the keynote speaker at this event. In addition, a panel of local food security pioneers will also be speaking.

For more information on the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee, fellow stakeholders, or the Feb 23rd event, please contact Founding Director Darcy Freedman.

A printable copy of the complete press release and list of founding partners and members can be found here.

Here is a recent Nashville City Paper article about the upcoming event. Vanderbilt University has information here.

“GROW Nashville,” The Nashville Community Gardening Steering Committee, is offering a free workshop for anyone in Nashville who is currently involved with a community garden or interested in getting one started. The focus of the workshop will be on building strong neighborhoods and community groups through community gardening. This event is particularly suited for neighborhood and community organizations, churches and schools, government agencies and people interested in growing their own fruits and vegetables.

The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Saturday, February 10th, from 9A to 1P, at Hadley Park Community Center, 1037 28th Avenue North, in Nashville.

Reservations are recommended.
For more info, or to make a reservation, please call 615/352-6299

Click here for a printable flyer.

Sponsored by:
GROW Nashville – The Nashville Community Gardening Steering Committee
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods
Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension Service
Bethlehem Centers of Nashville
Truth and Reconciliation Project – Good Food for Good People
Metro Parks
Wild Oats Marketplace
Team Green/WRLT-Lightning 100