Growing Roots
Growing Roots
A community-driven nonprofit organization rooted in Tracy City and serving the South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Focused on food access, food sovereignty, and whole-health wellness, Growing Roots empowers residents of Grundy, Franklin, and Marion counties through hands-on gardening, education, and collaborative community efforts.
Key Highlights:
- Tracy City Community Garden — Their flagship project, located on land owned by the Tracy City First United Methodist Church in a downtown residential area. Since breaking ground in Fall 2020, it has produced community harvests (starting with collards and garlic). Volunteers help tend shared plots, or individuals can adopt a “Grow Your Own” (GYO) raised bed. It’s an open garden where people can harvest as needed (with guidance available).
- Broader Initiatives — Youth gardening education (STEAM-based learning for K-8), workshops on wellness and land use, food distributions, potlucks, Roots After Hours (herb processing and value-added creation), and the Fresh Mess Market (a weekly summer market in Monteagle for produce, crafts, and more). They also plan a Native Plant Space highlighting indigenous knowledge and local ecology.
- Mission & Approach — Justice-oriented, emphasizing grassroots food sovereignty, land rights, community wellness, and equitable access. They offer volunteer opportunities, classes, and ways to get involved in building a more resilient local food system.
Growing Roots embodies the mountain community’s spirit of collaboration and connection to the land. Whether you’re looking to volunteer, learn to garden, grab fresh produce, or join educational events, it’s a welcoming space for building stronger roots—literally and figuratively—in Tracy City and beyond.
Visit their Website or Facebook page for garden updates, event schedules, volunteer info, and ways to connect.