Transforming North Nashville: How a Community Garden is Fighting Food Insecurity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A spirited group of volunteers gathered to tidy up a garden outside Nella Frierson’s home in North Nashville. On a warm February day that nearly hit 70 degrees, the sun shone brightly as birds chirped, making it a great moment to awaken the soil from its winter rest.

Children, seniors, and people of all ages joined forces, carefully clearing out weeds and dead plants. They aimed to protect the precious worms and nutrients in the soil, placing them in big compost bins nearby.

Coran Brown, one of the volunteers, shared, “It’s simple work, but it can be a lot.” She took a break, sitting on one of the garden’s unique hexagon-shaped pots to keep her hands clean.

Since 2008, this stretch along Haynes Street has become a hub for people eager to learn how to grow their own food. About 500 individuals, like Brown, now cultivate fruits, veggies, and flowers here, bringing fresh produce home.

Brown discovered the benefits of eating organic food through her involvement with the Brooklyn Heights Community Garden. “It means a lot to have a safe place where the community can come together,” she said.

Ms. Pearl, as Frierson is affectionately known, launched the garden after retiring and selling her business. She had no gardening experience but was determined to make a difference.

“You heal from the inside out,” she explained. “Food plays a big role in that.”

Frierson tirelessly worked to grow plants right outside her door. She even bought two more properties to expand the garden and help feed more families. Every season, new crops spring up from the garden’s signature beehive-shaped pots, and families in Brooklyn Heights can receive fresh produce delivered to their homes twice a month.

“I want people to interact and learn how to heal themselves,” Frierson said. Many are accustomed to grocery stores like Kroger or Publix and may not think about growing their own food.

Funding for the garden comes from generous donations and grants from Second Harvest. They are preparing to sell dried herbs and other garden-related products at the Nashville Farmer’s Market to support free wellness education programs.

Even as Frierson leads a charity with a board and organized teams, she still dedicates time to cultivate her plants and share her gardening wisdom.

Volunteer Kamren Williams, a student at Tennessee State University, is among many benefiting from this initiative. He joined his Brothers of Umoja group to give back to the community. As the sun set, they cleared debris from the garden beds to ready them for new vegetables.

“We give back to the earth, and it gives back to us,” he said. “It’s a rewarding experience.”

Frierson hopes that others, like Williams, will start their own gardens at home. Even a small pot can provide fresh food and inspire others.

The Brooklyn Heights Community Garden shows that significant change can start with just one seed. Frierson believes in growing slowly and steadily.

This garden, surrounded by wooden and metal fences, bursts with vines from tomatoes and other plants each summer. Frierson sees her gardening efforts as a shared journey where everybody can learn.

She often enters the garden with a joyful laugh, always ready to capture moments on her phone. High school volunteers have shown her how to use social media, allowing her messages to reach more people.

Through her TikTok posts, Frierson spreads inspiration, aiming to create a lasting impact. “I care about these kids and the community,” she said. “We can change things. Everyone can be that change.”