By Melissa Nelson
The Ashleyville project began with community input in October 2024, as residents voiced a need for greater access to fresh, healthy food after seeing the innovation of Mulberry Food Forest.
The Charleston Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Charleston, is expanding its innovative Food Forest initiative with the creation of the Ashleyville Food Forest in the Ashleyville-Maryville community of West Ashley. Building on the early success of its first site at Mulberry Park, the Conservancy’s newest Food Forest will provide free, organic produce and educational opportunities to residents, with planting set to begin in fall 2025. This expansion is made possible through the generous support of grants from Bank of America and the international Volvo For Life Fund.
This expansion deepens the Conservancy’s commitment to elevating park experiences and leveraging our public spaces as tools for addressing critical community needs. In the spring of 2024, the Conservancy installed South Carolina’s first public Food Forest at Mulberry Park, demonstrating the vision of transforming public green spaces into vibrant ecosystems that yield food, improve environmental health, and strengthen community ties. The Ashleyville Food Forest will build on that model by creating a resource that other communities across the region can learn from and replicate.
"The Conservancy’s leadership is already inspiring action across the region. Since launching the food forest, five municipalities and numerous neighborhoods have contacted us for guidance in planting their own food forests," said Darlene Heater, CEO and Executive Director of Charleston Parks Conservancy. "With young trees and plants now becoming established and beginning to bear fruit for neighbors to harvest at Mulberry, we are shifting focus toward community education and empowering residents to harvest, preserve, and use the organic produce available to them. This momentum has enabled us to efficiently manage resources and expand our Food Forest footprint across Charleston."
The Ashleyville project began with community input in October 2024, as residents voiced a need for greater access to fresh, healthy food after seeing the innovation of Mulberry Food Forest. Responding to the community, the Conservancy collaborated with neighborhood leaders and the City of Charleston to select an ideal location along the West Ashley Bikeway. The Conservancy convened site visits, worked with the City on design concepts to share with the neighborhood for input and secured funding to support the project. The installation is slated for October 2025, and a community ribbon-cutting event will occur in November.
In addition to providing a new place for neighbors to connect and fresh produce, the site will deliver vital environmental benefits, including improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration, urban heat island reduction, and enhanced biodiversity.
Covering one-third of an acre, the Ashleyville Food Forest will feature existing mature fig trees alongside 30 additional edible trees, shrubs, and perennials. The space is currently a vacant lot, and the Conservancy is proud to transform this space into a meaningful public park for the community. In addition to providing a new place for neighbors to connect and fresh produce, the site will deliver vital environmental benefits, including improved air and water quality, carbon sequestration, urban heat island reduction, and enhanced biodiversity. According to the Center for Watershed Protection, a single mature tree can absorb up to 6,500 liters of water per day and sequester 48 pounds of carbon annually, making every planting an investment in a healthier, more resilient community.
"Investing in innovative solutions like the Food Forest aligns with Bank of America's commitment to advancing economic mobility and community wellness," said Mark Munn, President, Bank of America Charleston-Hilton Head. "We are thrilled to support the Charleston Parks Conservancy in pioneering a model that addresses food access, environmental health, and community empowerment."
In addition to producing fresh food, the Conservancy will offer free workshops to teach residents how to grow, harvest, and preserve organic produce. The Ashleyville Food Forest will supplement the Conservancy’s "Grow it Forward" initiative, through which the Conservancy grows and donates organic produce to grassroots neighborhood resource centers serving those most impacted by food insecurity. Since launching in 2014, Grow it Forward has provided more than 34,000 pounds of healthy, organic produce to families across Charleston. As a sustainable extension of the Conservancy’s community gardens and Grow it Forward program, the Food Forests expand access to fresh food while fostering long-term neighborhood stewardship.
"Through the Volvo For Life Fund, we are committed to supporting initiatives that protect both people and the planet," said Louise Thompson, Head of the Volvo For Life Fund. “We’re honored to partner with the Conservancy on this initiative."
Meanwhile, the original Mulberry Food Forest thrives as a vibrant community resource. Heading into its second year, the flourishing rain garden, tea garden, pollinator garden, seasonal foodscape, and 96 mushroom logs are producing a growing bounty of organic food. Residents use the space daily for recreation, education, and community gatherings, underscoring the model’s success and potential to transform public spaces into sustainable community assets.
The community is invited to an information session about the new food forest on May 22 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Carr Richardson Park at 1071 Bender St, Charleston, SC 29407. The neighborhood can drop in and look at the plans and provide feedback.
Learn more about the Charleston Parks Conservancy’s innovative work atcharlestonparksconservancy.org,and support the Food Forest effort by donating atcharlestonparksconservancy.
The Charleston Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the people of Charleston to connect with their parks and create stunning public places and a strong community. The Conservancy secures 90% of the funding required to maintain 26 parks, gardens and trails across the city through private and corporate donations, while the City of Charleston covers 10% of costs. The Conservancy team provides year-round park care, with a focus on strategic seasonal plantings, major park revitalizations, and sustainable maintenance. In 2024 alone, the organization planted over 46,000 plants and 1,000 trees, donated two tons of fresh produce and 1,200 fresh flower bouquets grown in its parks and gardens, and advocated for the vital role of parks in urban life. Through 180 hours annually of free programming, including popular events like the Teddy Bear Picnic, the Conservancy cultivates vibrant, welcoming green spaces that serve as hubs for recreation, relaxation, and community connection. For more information, visit www.
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