AVL Edibles Last updated or reviewed on September 7, 2023 Asheville Edibles Map Access to healthy, nutritious food and the ability to cultivate, harvest, process, sell, share and trade food contributes to a thriving and resilient city environment. Explore and contribute to the Asheville Edibles Map – A place to share and explore the many edible projects, plantings and gardens. Check out the Edibles Map here. Have a site to add to the map? Fill out this form. Certified Pollinator Habitats We know that we can’t have nutritious, delicious food without the help of our dedicated pollinator community. The City has partnered with Asheville GreenWorks to support Bee City Asheville and improve pollinator habitats by supporting Pollinator Habitat Certification on approved City property. Businesses, organizations, or individuals choose to “adopt” an approved City-owned piece of property that they pledge to plant and maintain as a pollinator garden, Asheville GreenWorks and the Bee City leadership committee provides technical support and expertise. Your family, organization, or business can make a positive impact on Asheville through stewardship of publicly owned places. With support from their contract with the City of Asheville, Asheville Greenworks also supports Bee City Asheville’s certified pollinator habitat program for plantings on private property and ongoing stewardship of existing pollinator gardens through volunteer engagement and Bee City leadership team support. Check out the awesome plantings at the RAD HAB and pollinator meadows on the Wilma Dykeman Greenway. For more information and/or to participate in the Pollinator Certification Program, visit GreenWorks’ website. Community Gardens Asheville’s Community Gardens Program provides city land for food production and community building through edible garden development. This is a great way to bring your neighborhood and/or organization together to enjoy the multiple health benefits of growing fresh produce with friends, family, and neighbors. Each designated community garden location has room for several plots. There is no cost to lease the land. All you need are helping hands. The City is now accepting applications for the community gardens program. As of 2018, Bountiful Cities has contracted with the City to manage this program. Applications will be considered for any open City property and approval for new garden sites is based on land availability and suitability. Please contact Isa Whitaker by email or phone at 828-257-4000 with Bountiful Cities for more information on how to participate. Edible Parks Did you know the City of Asheville is home to one of the nation’s first edible food forests? With over 40 varieties of fruit and nut trees, vines, and shrubs George Washington Carver Edible Park is an urban oasis and a model for growing food in and with the community. Many other city properties are also home to edible plantings. Multiple mature trees bear fruit at Tempie Avery park and there is growing community engagement and edible planting expansion and maintenance at G.W. Carver, Tempie Avery, West Asheville and Magnolia Parks. Community maintenance, educational signage and stewardship are supported through the Bountiful Cities Project. Check out the Edibles Map here.
