Experience Our Edible Wonders
Guild 1: The Stands in Cane Creek Park
Fall 2024
Learn more about the first 33 trees planted in Fall 2024 along the connected paths at Cane Creek Park.
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Spring 2025
- Elderberry
- Peaches
- Pecans
- Figs
- Persimmons
- Stella Cherries​
- Sugar Maples
- Swamp White Oak
- Sycamore & Birch
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Fall 2025
- Stella & Bing Cherries
- Peaches
- Persimmon
- Edible Dogwood
- Chestnuts
Guild 2: Legacy Trees in Cane Creek Park
Long before the food forest project came to Cookeville, edible trees were being foraged throughout the park. Find out about the City's Arboretum at Cane Creek Park [HERE].
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These include Chinese Chestnuts, Black Cherries, Walnuts, Hickories, White Oak, Persimmons, Polk, and Blackberries.
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An on-going survey and mapping project will incorporate these mature trees into our educational programming and harvesting plans.
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Join our Mapping Committee (led by Mr. Call) to identify the existing foraging opportunities by entering native and edible species into iNaturalist.
You can view and join the iNaturalist Project [HERE].
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Guild 3: Children's Woods
2026 Coming soon...
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The Children's Woods is being developed within the paved path area of the expansion to Cane Creek Park. Playful areas are being planned to invite the youngest members of our community to engage with edible landscapes and permaculture.
Guild 4: Berry Labyrinth
2026 Coming soon...
A section of the expansion will be dedicated to a blueberry and strawberry field. These are hedges that will serve as a simple labyrinth year round. Due to the unique ph requirements, these berries are grown separate from the other berry guild.
Guild 5: Lavender Path
2026 Coming soon...
Edibles can be beautiful too. This guild combines varieties of lavender, passion fruit, and grapes to create a breathtaking entrance to one section of the forest. Lavender is a mosquito repellent that invites pollinators and welcomes visitors to the food forest.
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We are seeking sponsors for archways/arbors to support vines on this path.
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Guild 6: Hillside Forest
Here we are at work reestablishing towering native and nut trees (hazelwood, pecans, hickories, persimmon, white oaks) to decrease erosion and decrease mowing requirements.
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Guild 8: Berry Patch
This Guild steps out from under the forest's canopy to provide the sun needed for some of our favorite berries in our food forest.
Guild 12: Cherry Grove
Coming soon... Planted in 2026,
A variety of cherry trees (black, sweet, tart, and blossoms) create this unique space at the edge of the forest.
For four weeks each spring, the blooming cherry trees create a stunning display that is the perfect backdrop for photos and small events.
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At harvest time, these same trees provide abundant cherries throughout June.
Forest Art
We have a strong committee of local artists and a budding landscape architect who are coming together to design interpretive signage and install public art and whimsical children's features.
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Think Cheekwood and forest art installations. We'd like to ignite the imagination by incorporating thoughtful art installations within the food forest, making it a destination during all seasons--beyond the harvest.
Fungi
Coming later 2030 and beyond...
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Some of the trees we plant in 2026-2027 will be cut and inoculated to bring mushrooms to our forest. But mycelium and fungi are also at work under the soil and within roots.
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This Guild needs dedicated experts and a strong committee to set us up for sustainable harvesting and to correctly develop and nurture the mycelium.