I am the business. I finally understand what that means. I am here to make art + truth out of my own experience, hoping that my expression touches your need that we may both grow how we must.
My Beginning
I began by wanting to heal myself. I began by acknowledging that I couldn’t live like this one second longer. I began by taking a single step into the abyss that is self work. I began by dying thousands of deaths and being present for all of my subsequent births. I began by absorbing knowledge, wisdom + truth and haphazardly applying it to my own life, shakily at first, then slowly with more confidence. The truth is, I did all of it for me, because I knew on some level that I deserved to be free. I knew I would rather die working towards that goal then live believing it wasn’t possible for me.
“A happy and healthy community is not a fairytale. All you need is a seed.”
— NADIA Shabazz, FOUNDER
Shabazz had to extend the garden to her front lawn but even then, it wasn’t enough to feed all who wanted to be involved. With neighbors January Blum and Lucas Dupont, Shabazz found a large vacant lot on Main Street and secured it as a farming cooperative. Word about Project Sprout spread throughout Kent County, so the team was invited to help start other community gardens.
Our Mission
Kent County is one of the most severely underserved communities in Tennessee. To combat this adversity, Project Sprout seeks to nourish our neighbors at the most fundamental level with healthy food options and a strong support network. All members get a portion of each harvest and surpluses are donated to low-income families whose work schedules prevent them from volunteering.
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10%
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With ten gardens and counting, Project Sprout has seen a significant improvement in mental and physical health for all participating community members. Other than lowering obesity, blood pressure, and depression rates, the crime rate has also fallen. Our children are doing better in school, reporting higher grades and aspirations, and better job prospects.
Get Involved
If you live near one of our gardens, get involved to receive portions of each harvest. We accept volunteers regardless of skill level. There is a rotation in roles, but we’ll teach you all the skills you need to know. Teenagers 14 years and older can earn community service credits for school in addition to getting produce for their families. Donations are also vital to our growth, as we use them for seed, fertilizer, tools, and outreach.