The welcome Garden & CSA

The Welcome Garden is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm started in 2023 on the land of Doug and Anne Hardin in Goodlettsville, in collaboration with the Center for Contemplative Justice and the St A’s Justice Salon community.  The Welcome Garden grows local, organic produce for our community which stewards the land well and extend a place of welcome to all.

Sharing the blessings of the Welcome Garden
Our Welcome Garden has been riotously fruitful so far this Spring, with harvests of greens, vegetables, and eggs so abundant that we have food to share with our immigrant and refugee friends who have limited access to fresh foods!  This year we are partnering with Remix and Inspiritus, nonprofits that serve these communities, as we will also continue sharing our excess harvest with Magdalen households.

Friends who have invested in our CSA shares provide the majority of our expenses to pay our farmer and other necessary supplies for the Garden throughout the season and, most importantly, to pay the workers’ cooperative that faithfully shows up to plant, tend and harvest in the Garden.

With the loss of a federal grant this year we are hoping to sell out all of our shares to cover this loss. We have around 20 more weekly shares to sell! We invite you to buy a prorated full share ($750) or a half share ($325). Or, please send to friends or family who may be interested in fresh, local produce and delicious eggs! 

In 2024 we sold a total of 45 shares. Out of 30 shares, 10 individuals bought full shares and 40 individuals bought half shares. Food leftover from distribution was taken to Magdalene households. Second Harvest purchased 15 shares which enabled the Welcome Garden to provide 5 shares for our new neighbor families, 5 shares for Old Hickory Church of Christ and extended community in need, and 5 shares to Church of the Advent’s food pantry, Body and Soul.

For our 2025 3rd season, we are reorganizing our shares; instead of 50 shares which have been more food than people want, we are selling 100 shares which we hope will be more generous than last years half shares for $800/ 30 week season. This averages out to only be $25/week which can be a great investment for healthy groceries which supports our new neighbors in the process. First CSA pickup will be May 24th. Please spread the word to neighbors and friends since 2nd Harvest will not be able to help us this year!

Volunteers are always welcome:

  • Planting, mulching and/or harvesting in the garden

  • Helping feed and water poultry

  • Supervising or doing activities with children,

  • Weighing harvests on Saturdays

  • Helping with distribution on Sundays.

2024 stats:

  • Over 17,500 pounds of fruit and vegetables were harvested and over 8000 eggs.

  • At least 20 Latino families help work in the garden. With the help of Chris Hoskins and John Elrod, 5 of our Coop graduates are organizing  into a coop called Fertle Land so they can now organize more independently.

  • Our farmer, Tim Kercheville with Festina Lente farms is taking groups to work at 2 other farms this year where they are also growing CSA’s.

  • We had a lovely Garden Blessing with about 60 folks in attendance last spring and an amazing 100 mile potluck last November with 175 friends celebrating

Contact Anne Hardin or Tina Tsui with questions. thewelcomegardentn@gmail.com