Recently, the Atlanta City Council gave the green light to a project of converting seven acres of land at Lakewood Fairgrounds and Brown Mill Golf Course into a park and gardens.
This project came from legislation from District 1 Carla Smith, a councilwoman who advocates environmental green projects. Called a ‘food forest’, it will be the first in Georgia and reportedly the largest in the US.
This park will allow residents to pick fruits and vegetables grown in the park gardens, and will offer nuts, vegetables, herbs, fruits, and mushrooms. The project is funded by two organizations – the Open Space Conservation Program and the U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program.
An organization called Trees Atlanta will be in charge of the project. It plans to fundraise, hire staff, and manage the park.
Smith worked in environmental affairs for Atlanta and established the first Electronic Waste Recycling Day. This event has become a regular event. In 2010, it was renamed EcoDepot.
The Brown Mill Urban Food Forest will connect residents through planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. It will create a sense of community and cultural connection.
Atlanta has been classified as a ‘food desert’ due to low number of supermarkets in the city, but the city has printing services that design and provide poster printing for projects like this.
