Who would have thought that an abandoned pecan farm in Atlanta’s southern suburbs could turn into something so life-changing? When development plans fell apart and the land went into foreclosure, many assumed it would remain just another empty lot. But in 2016, the Conservation Fund stepped in with a vision that no one expected: turning it into America’s largest free food forest.
Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Forest Service and teamwork between the city of Atlanta, the Conservation Fund, and Trees Atlanta, this once-forgotten 7.1-acre plot has become a thriving forest filled with over 2,500 edible and medicinal plants. Just 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, it’s now a vital oasis for the Browns Mill community, where the nearest supermarket is a tiring 30-minute bus ride away.
“Access to green spaces and healthy food is at the heart of what we do,” says Michael McCord, the arborist managing the site. The forest is part of Atlanta’s bigger dream: ensuring every resident lives within half a mile of fresh, nutritious food.
In a city where one in six Georgians face food insecurity, and many neighborhoods lack grocery stores, this forest is more than trees and trails. It’s a lifeline. In Browns Mill alone, one in three residents live below the poverty line, making this place a beacon of hope.
For local kids, school field trips to the forest often become their first real encounter with gardening, farming, and nature. They spend the day learning about urban agriculture, from bees and vegetables to edible flowers and herbal medicines.
Now managed by the parks department, the forest thrives with the help of over a thousand volunteers and locals who care deeply about keeping it alive. On busy days, up to 50 people come together to plant, harvest, and care for the land.
“It’s truly a park for everyone,” says councilwoman Carla Smith, who helped launch the project. Visitors understand the unspoken rule: take only what you need, so everyone benefits.
But the food forest is more than free produce. Community leaders like Celeste Lomax use it as an educational hub, teaching composting, herbal medicine, and sustainable gardening. “We host wellness retreats, outdoor yoga, and workshops on how food can heal,” she shares. “This place is about nurturing health and wellness far beyond just food.”
Atlanta’s food forest is part of a bigger trend across America. Over 70 public food forests have popped up nationwide in recent years, each aiming to tackle food insecurity while teaching communities how to grow and share.
The Browns Mill forest itself was shaped by the community. Before planting began, residents were asked what they wanted to see: fruit trees, herbs, year-round crops, and traditional medicinal plants. Volunteers even used Hügelkultur, an old method of building garden mounds with decaying wood to keep the soil moist.
Today, visitors wander through paths lined with strawberries, greens, and fruit trees, guided by signs explaining what can be eaten and how to harvest responsibly.
This project not only preserves Atlanta’s agricultural roots – once home to thriving African American-owned farms – but also manages stormwater runoff and enriches biodiversity.
Food forests like this are transforming urban life. They’re teaching people that cities can provide not just concrete and buildings, but also living systems that feed both body and soul. As Lomax beautifully put it, “At first, we thought we were just gardening. But it’s become a sanctuary – a place that heals, unites, and empowers us all.”
And with only a small portion of its land developed so far, Atlanta’s food forest is just getting started. As Mario Cambardella, one of the forest’s founders, says: “People ask when the forest will have its grand opening. But really, it began the moment we planted the first seed. This forest is meant to grow, evolve, and be enjoyed endlessly by everyone who steps into it.”
