The Vision

Our vision is to have low maintenance food forests in every food desert in the city.

The Mission

Our mission is in activating & engaging community intergenerationally through food forests, permaculture education, & the arts to cocreate sustainable solutions to City food deserts.

Did you know?

The Southside Food Forest model has been recognized by the United Nations for actively elevating 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals as a specially-accredited invitee for the historic United Nations Summit of the Future & was invited as a presenting organization for United Nations COP29 on the climate for ‘‘How Music & the Arts are Empowering Community-Driven Climate Solutions, Intergenerational Leadership & the Achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals’’

How we started…

Southside Food Forest | Winston-Salem, NC, USA

Southside Food Forest is a community garden, intergenerational learning & recreation hub minutes from downtown Winston-Salem in an area food desert. For the past five years, intergenerational & cross sector efforts by community members have planted fruit trees, herbs, flowers & berry bushes for the benefit of the community & ecosystem. Our members believe that eliminating food deserts in urban areas is essential to self-reliance & achieving prosperous, sustainable communities.

The Boy and Girl Scouts, Hispanic League, Arts Council of Winston-Salem Forsyth County, Spark Community WS, Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Winston-Salem State University, Young ECOS, Wake Forest University, International Human Rights Consortium, Sacred Spiral Holistics, DOSE Artist Collective, Activate Entertainment Winston-Salem Fashion Week, Sustainable Fashion Week US, Appalachian State University, Salem College, NC Cooperative Extension & more

...have ALL used this space for events, workshops, gatherings, internships, Eagle Scout Projects, & academic credit.

see our Instagram

How its going…

Trees:

  • Black walnut*

  • pecan*

  • eucalyptus

  • pear

  • mulberry*

  • fig*

  • peach*

  • plum*

  • nectarine

  • apricot

  • pomegranate (seasonal addition in pot)

  • ginkgo (year round in pot)

  • persimmon

  • cherry

  • apple (multiple varieties)*

  • goumi

Shrubs:

  • elderberry*

  • blueberry*

  • blackberry*

  • milkweed*

  • hibiscus*

  • roses

  • raspberry

  • gogi berry

Vines:

  • muscadine grape*

  • passion fruit*

  • Malabar spinach

  • vining strawberry

Flowers:

  • sunflower*

  • verbena*

  • bee balm*

  • eastern columbine*

  • calendula*

  • cosmos*

  • white clover*

  • wild aster*

  • irises*

  • dandelion*

  • daffodil*

  • chrysanthemum*

  • black eyed susans* 

  • evening primrose

  • nasturim

  • marigolds

  • snapdragon

  • strawflower

  • zinnias

Herbs:

  • mint

  • bee balm *

  • lavender

  • thyme

  • rosemary

  • mugwort *

  • ginger

  • turmeric

  • comfrey

  • red+white yarrow *

  • chamomile

  • goldenrod*

  • echinacea*

  • st. johns wort

  • chives

  • borage

  • lemon grass

Ground covers:

  • clover*, crimson and dutch white

  • creeping thyme

  • strawberry

  • plantain*

  • wild violet*

Etc:

  • walking onion

  • yucca

  • prickly pear

  • rainbow chard

  • romaine

  • kale

* indicates a native plant

Future Places

In 2025 we will be re-launching the “Help a Neighbor Plant a Native Fruit Tree” program as well as our new greenhouse classroom. Do you have ideas for a location of a Food Forest Community and Learning Garden?

Reach out to us at wspermaculturecollective@gmail.com