GO Gardening & Nature

Program Summary

Go Outside Gardening and Nature is an intergenerational sustainability and wellness initiative that engages elders and children in hands-on environmental education, urban agriculture, and community stewardship through a network of community gardens and learning hubs, beginning on the Westside of Atlanta. Rooted in ecological restoration and public health equity, the program strengthens connections between people, food systems, and green spaces while addressing nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellness in historically underserved communities.

Participants gain practical skills in sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and healthy lifestyle development through gardening, outdoor recreation, and place-based learning. By pairing ecological literacy with intergenerational knowledge exchange, the program fosters community resilience, improves neighborhood greenspace, and cultivates a culture of care for both people and the environment.

Program Description

Structure: Ongoing seasonal programming with weekly and monthly classes, garden workdays, and wellness activities
Location:

Site 1(Fall 2026): Westside Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Site 2 (Fall 2027): Forest Park, Clayton County, GA
Site 3 (Spring 2028): Macon, Bibb County, GA
Site 4 (Fall 2028): Stockbridge, Henry County, GA

Participants: Elders, children, and family units recruited through community partners, schools, and senior organizations
Staff: Regional Manager, Site Manager/land steward, Agricultural educators, Program Coordinator, wellness practitioners, trained community volunteers

Program Highlights:

Community garden & learning center
Intergenerational engagement and cultural knowledge sharing
Physical and mental wellness programming for elders and children
Friendly for Participants with Disabilities
Nutrition education and food access initiatives
On-site Food Truck
On-site Farmer’s Market supporting community growers and micro-entrepreneurs

Curriculum Highlights:

Urban Agriculture & Nutrition Education: Hands-on gardening, soil health, composting, pollinator support, and seasonal food production to promote sustainable land use and healthy eating habits.

- - Childhood obesity

Physical & Mental Wellness: Low-impact movement, gardening-based physical activity, mindfulness practices, and outdoor recreation designed to support mobility, stress reduction, and emotional well-being across generations.

Environmental Stewardship & Community Care: Native planting, invasive species removal, garden maintenance, and shared land stewardship practices that strengthen neighborhood ownership and ecological responsibility.

Civic Engagement & Intergenerational Learning: Collaborative projects that bring elders and youth together to share stories, cultural traditions, and environmental knowledge while fostering leadership and community pride.

Project Goals and Objectives:

Phase 1: Gardening Program at Westwood location, Atlanta, GA

Phase 2: Leased Garden Plots

Phase 3: On-site food truck

Phase 4: On-site Farmer’s Market

Phase 5: Expand to other locations

- Forest Park, Clayton County, GA
- Macon, Bibb County
- Stockbridge, Henry County, GA

Phase 1: Establish Community Garden Program in Westside Atlanta

Goal 1: Increase access to safe, inclusive green spaces that support wellness and learning.

Objective 1.1 Engage elders and children in recurring gardening, wellness, and outdoor education activities at the Westwood site.

Goal 2: Strengthen food security and civic participation through shared land use.

Objective 2.1: Provide leased garden plots for community members to grow food and participate in collective stewardship.

Goal 3: Establish On-Site Food Truck

Objective 3.1: Operate an on-site food truck to model healthy food choices and support local economic activity.

Goal 4: Launch On-Site Farmer’s Market

Objective 4.1: Host regular farmer’s markets that connects community to fresh food and local vendors.

Goal 5: Regional Expansion

Objective 5.1: Expand programming to Forest Park, Macon, and Stockbridge using framework.

By Program Completion:

Greenspace Engagement (>85%): Increased participation in outdoor activities supporting physical, mental, and social well-being.
Social-Emotional Skill Development (>85%): Strengthened leadership, communication, and teamwork through intergenerational collaboration.
Environmental Stewardship (>80%): Increased environmental literacy, sustainable land practices, cultural knowledge sharing, and green space advocacy.
Ecological Benchmarks (>10%): Measurable improvements in biodiversity, pollinator habitat, soil structure, and stormwater absorption at each site.
Stakeholder Satisfaction (>90%): Positive feedback from participants, partners, and vendors informing continuous improvement.

Evaluation Plan

Pre- and post-surveys measuring participant well-being, engagement, outlook, and family involvement
Ecological benchmarks tracking site development (invasive removal, native landscaping, garden beds, and on-site storage infrastructure)
Documentation of progress through photos, journals, and partner observations
Ongoing stakeholder, participant, and community partner feedback to guide program refinement

Scalability

Leasing plots to community gardeners
Adding to program with food truck, then farmers market
To other Righteous Family Land locations in phases