My Plan

Micro Gardens

400 sq ft. gardens set up around neighborhoods

These micro-gardens ($3200 per garden) will consist of 12 raised garden beds, filled with vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, basil, parsley, etc. These vegetables generate a lot of food within a given radius, maximizing food output and growth speed. Around 15-30% of all low-income neighborhoods are food insecure. Every garden generates enough food for 50-150 households a month, which feeds many food-insecure people. The desirable outcome would be 4-8 gardens per neighborhood, and 60-90 micro gardens across Fort Worth.

One garden per 1,000-1,500 residents

Home Gardening Kits

Seed packets/small kits that teach families how to grow plants/food

Micro gardens bring neighborhoods together and strengthen the community. However, they aren't enough to inspire a new generation of plant growers. With home gardening kits ($40 each), families can learn to grow food at home. Each kit will include tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and leafy greens. These small, simple packs will have a significant impact, as each kit grows about 15-25 pounds of food per season.

750-1500 kits distributed per year

Youth Workforce

Group of individuals who work to maintain the gardens + send out food to households

Similar to my experience at Funky Town, a team of paid individuals (14-20) will maintain gardens, assist residents with their gardening kits, distribute harvest, and gain much experience.

6-8 workers per 4 gardens
Stipends are given to youth workers

Budget

Item Cost

Lumber for 12 beds $900

Soil + compost $1,200

Drip irrigation $450

Tools $300

Seeds $150

Water costs $100

Mulch $100

Shed (optional) $450

Total per garden: $3,250–$3,700

City-Wide Costs

60 gardens:

$222k Startup cost

$21k annual basic cost

$430k annual basic cost for gardens, kits, and youth program

Funding + Partnerships

USDA Urban Agriculture Grant
Tarrant Area Food Bank partnerships
Cook Children’s Community Health
Kroger, H-E-B, Whole Foods microgrants
Bank of America Neighborhood Builders
City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Grants
Local nonprofits
- Catholic Charities
- LVTRise)

Impact

Each garden grows about 600 pounds of vegetables every year.
Across the city:
- Sixty gardens can yield between 21,000 and 36,000 pounds of produce each year.
- Seventy-five gardens can provide 26,000 to 45,000 pounds annually.
- Ninety gardens can produce 31,500 to 54,000 pounds of veggies per year.
- Gardening kits increase this output by 15,000–37,500 pounds more every year.
These efforts supply fresh produce to about 6,000 people every week during the growing season.
With local gardens, there’s less need for transportation—removing a significant hurdle that contributes to food insecurity. As a result, 80% to 90% of residents have fresh food within walking distance.
The program also creates jobs for young people, improves health for everyone involved, and turns unused properties into beautiful green spaces.

In total, the Fortify Farming Food Network could supply up to 90,000 pounds of fresh food a year, help local families save $1 to $3 million in food expenses, provide jobs for up to 100 young people every year, and make a lasting difference for thousands of residents. This initiative brings healthy food closer to home, supports community well-being, and helps transform neighborhoods across Fort Worth.