Support Food Forest Space for Enviro Justice

The Globeville Elyria Swansea (GES) Coalition is raising $39,000 to build a teaching pavilion, install signage, and support site programming at the Tierras Verdes Food Forest — a community-owned green space where neighbors grow food, learn together, and celebrate culture. Over the past decade, the GES Coalition has worked hard to bring environmental justice to the neighborhoods. In 2024, through its Tierra Colectiva Community Land Trust, the coalition bought land to plant a Food Forest - a garden that mimics a forest ecosystem to provide a climate resilient source of food, medicinal and culinary herbs, as well as pollinator and wildlife habitat. The food forest is a space that can demonstrate the power of community ownership, and continue to support a neighborhood-wide coalition focused on Environmental Justice for the GES neighborhoods. 

Volunteers have already planted over 40 fruit trees and native plants, including edible and medicinal species with deep cultural roots in Mexico and Latin America. Now, the community wants to make Tierras Verdes a place for GES neighbors - including Spanish-speakers who may not easily find inclusive gardening and environmental stewardship offerings - to learn, teach and organize around food sovereignty, traditional growing practices and environmental justice, as well as gather for celebrations and community meetings. 

A new pavilion will make it easier to host youth and adult classes, community events, and celebrations—rain or shine—while honoring the stories, traditions, and ecological knowledge of GES residents. Additional funding will support site volunteer recruitment and coordination, event planning and site programming with partners.  With your help, Tierras Verdes Food Forest will grow into a welcoming, educational, and culturally grounded space for generations to come.