Growing Roots

Growing Roots community members regularly share food with our neighborhoods! In addition to an “open garden” policy, where individuals can harvest food from the Community Garden as needed (just let us know if you need a lesson on how to harvest produce!), we are glad to celebrate the abundance through regular food distributions, potlucks, group campfires, and more.

Growing Roots is committed to the principles of justice and equity, and is in partnership with experienced facilitators to help craft and lead workshops and programming focused around topics such as community equity and horizontal service, land use narratives, and community care in volunteer settings. In addition to providing these opportunities to members of the Growing Roots community at regular trainings, we also arrange workshops for organizations, clubs, or groups looking to engage in these discussions. Contact us at stephanie@growingrootstn.org to discuss which workshop and approach might be the right fit for the individuals in your group. To honor the work and experience that facilitators bring, external organizations will be charged facilitation fees.

Growing Roots seeks to increase community engagement and accessibility when it comes to food utility. The Roots After Hours project has run every summer and fall harvesting season since the summer of 2021 and is one of the ways in which Growing Roots educates the surrounding community on the uses, processing, and various applications of homegrown herbs. This project is one of several programs run by Growing Roots that encourage independent value-added creation.

In the fall of 2024, Roots After Hours will continue on Wednesday evenings.

Fresh Mess Market @ Harton Park, Monteagle (center of town, down Main Street)

Every Thursday from June 5th - October 2nd, 2025, 3pm - 6pm

Join us after work & after school to hang out in the playground, and to buy / sell / barter fresh produce, crafts, clothing, jams, candles, boutique goods, flowers, and other creative things 🍞🌱🍅👚🌻🖼️

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FAQ:

** Who does this? // We’re an ad-hoc, rag-tag, volunteer bunch of craft & farmer’s market -lovers. Semi-formally organized by community members of Growing Roots & council members of the Town of Monteagle, but 1000% supported by our amazing vendors & general town folk.

** How much for a booth? // No charge! Just come & set up. We do accept vendor donations (usually around $5) to organize Facebook advertising, music, and other support services. Supporting orgs, like Growing Roots, typically put in a lead donation to help those things along.

Growing Roots connects with area schools and youth programs to offer STEAM-based garden learning to youth in grades K-8 for subjects like plant biology, earth sciences, place-based history, engineering, art, creative writing, and the culinary arts. Guided by Growing Roots volunteers, youth programming allows kids to connect the wonders of being in a garden with important learning concepts. Interested teachers can reach out to the Growing Roots to schedule time in your classroom / club, or groups can field trip to visit one of the Growing Roots gardens in Grundy County, TN.