News Summary
Amid a food insecurity crisis in East Knoxville, Pastor Chris Battle is converting vacant church lots into community gardens to combat food disparities. With local grocery store closures exacerbating the issue, Battle has established five gardens to provide fresh produce and promote sustainable food solutions. His nonprofit, Rooted East, is dedicated to teaching traditional agricultural techniques, fostering community engagement, and addressing access to healthy food options in food desert areas. The initiative illustrates the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure food accessibility for all residents.
Knoxville Pastor Transforms Vacant Church Lots into Community Gardens Amid Food Insecurity Crisis
Knoxville is facing a significant food insecurity crisis, with the recent closure of a local grocery store exacerbating the situation. Pastor Chris Battle, a leader in East Knoxville, has been proactive in addressing food disparities by converting vacant church lots into community gardens. Over the past seven years, he has established five gardens at different churches, forming the foundation of Battle Field Farm, a nonprofit aimed at closing fresh food gaps in the region.
The area of East Knoxville encompasses three zip codes: 37915, 37914, and 37914, with the 37915 zip code notably lacking any grocery store. The USDA defines such areas as food deserts, characterized by low-income neighborhoods with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Due to recent federal funding cuts from the USDA, food banks in East Tennessee have been deeply affected, further intensifying the demand for fresh produce in the community.
Pastor Battle has reported a continuous need for fresh fruits and vegetables among local residents. East Knoxville has been described as a food swamp, where there are significantly more unhealthy food options compared to healthy ones, with four unhealthy choices for every one healthy option available. Many community members have expressed their frustrations about the ease of access to unhealthy food as opposed to fresh produce, indicating a community challenge when it comes to healthy living.
The recent and indefinite closure of the Save A Lot grocery store for remodeling has raised considerable concerns among residents. Many individuals, particularly those without transportation, are now faced with greater difficulty in accessing fresh food options, forcing them to rely on a single supermarket after the store’s closure. In a community already vulnerable to inadequate food access, the impact of this grocery store’s closing is felt acutely.
In response to the challenges of food accessibility, Charlotte Rodina from CAC Beardsley Community Farm highlighted the strong disparity in food access throughout the community, noting that approximately 3,400 food bags are distributed monthly to residents in Knoxville. Areas with limited access to fresh produce often face correlated health issues, including increased rates of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. East Knoxville has been reported to have the highest incidence of such diseases within the city.
Rooted East, a Black-led food justice nonprofit co-founded by Chris Battle and Femeika Elliott, has emerged to tackle food apartheid in East Knoxville. The organization is focused on garden education and forming land partnerships to establish a sustainable food system. Rooted East is dedicated to teaching community members traditional agricultural techniques to empower them to grow their own food.
The inaugural meeting of Rooted East attracted only six attendees, but this number has since grown considerably, demonstrating an increasing community interest in food justice issues. The organization has seen positive outcomes, with improvements in mental, physical, and emotional health among participants in their gardening programs. Importantly, Rooted East values contributions from elders in the community who bring historical perspectives on food justice work.
The issues surrounding food insecurity and access in East Knoxville are urgent. The community is at risk of losing over 1 million acres of farmland by 2040 if current development trends continue. The feedback regarding the documentary “Roots of Resilience,” created by Ronald Levy, showcases the stories of local elders and aims to foster discussions regarding food justice and mobilize community engagement around gardening initiatives.
Community members have demonstrated a strong willingness to volunteer at local gardens, reflecting a collective commitment to improving food access and addressing the root causes of food insecurity in East Knoxville. Pastor Chris Battle’s ongoing efforts highlight the need for innovative solutions to ensure that residents have the ability to access healthy, fresh foods now and in the future.
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Additional Resources
- WBIR: Knoxville Pastor Transforms Vacant Church Lots into Community Gardens Amid Food Insecurity Crisis
- WATE: Local Farmers Market Doubles SNAP Benefits Amid Federal Cuts
- Food Tank: This Black-Led Food Collective Fights Food Apartheid
- Wikipedia: Food Desert
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Desert
Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
