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Cookeville Food Forest & Foraging Path

"Growing together, sharing abundance, inspiring communities."

Welcome to the Cookeville Food Forest — a community-rooted, future-focused edible park.


Here in the Upper Cumberland, we’re building a space where people, plants, and pollinators can thrive together. The Cookeville Food Forest will grow into an edible arboretum filled with native fruits, nuts, herbs, and gathering spaces designed for learning, exploration, and connection. This forest is for everyone, and it becomes stronger with every person who steps into the story. We’d love to learn more about you—your skills, your curiosities, and how you might want to be part of this project. Please take a moment to fill out our Interest Form so we know how to welcome you in.

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As you explore the site, check out our Upcoming Events and let us know to expect you by submitting an RSVP.

 

And if you’re wondering what a food forest is or how it works, our FAQs are a great place to begin.

 

Together, we’re growing something beautiful for Cookeville—one tree, one volunteer, one joyful harvest at a time.

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April 12, 2026 -
 
April 1-4, 2026 - Seeded a cover crop full or nitrogen fixers, soil builders, and pollinator attractors. We had a lot of help from community partners and local landscapers. Wayne Key at the UT-Extension coordinated our use of the Soil Conservation program's Seed Drill and Tri-Greens 125hp tractor (more on that later). Chase Miller Landscaping and Montgomery Landscaping helped with soil additives, mowing, and broadcast seeding. now we are just watching the forecast and hoping for rain!
 
March 8, 2026 - First monthly Friends Work Party! 26 friends gathered. We planted several trees on the wild hill. Chestnuts, chinquapin oaks, persimmon, and pecans. We also did some live staking of Elderberry. And set out some comfrey, onions, and other companion plants. 
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Dec 15-31, 2025 - Seeking Part-Time Program Director Position 

Dec 14, 2025 - FIRST LOOK at design - Community Feedback Meeting:
          1PM for short tour at Cane Creek Park (top of hill near hilltop courts)
          3PM for design meeting at West Side Grocery (52 S Cedar Ave)

Dec 9, 2025 - Partnered with Cookeville Leisure Services, Cookeville Facilities, and Cherry Hill Nursery to plant trees along the connected paths in Cane Creek Park.

Nov 2025 - Cookeville Tree Board awarded matching grant (TAEP) with some trees planted in the 31-acrea expansions at Cane Creek Park.

Dec 2024 - Designer Announced: Wild Violet Permaculture, Chattanooga, TN
Dec 2024 - Planted over 45 trees along the connected paths in Cane Creek Park, West End Park, and Jackson Street bike trail - including peaches, cherries, pecans, figs, elderberries, persimmons, crab apples, sugar maples, swamp white oak, and others.
 
Cane Creek Park
Extension at Cowan Farms

Fresh Updates

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