A nonprofit organization is preparing a site in the Handley area of Fort Worth to construct a community garden focused on growing agricultural products referenced in biblical texts. TFT Organization, which stands for Tomorrow’s Families Today, is working to clear the property at 2213 Woodberry Drive. The plan involves installing two greenhouses and a shed on the land, with construction intended to begin in January.
Broderick Taylor, the president of TFT, stated that the project aims to engage young people in cultivating plants, maintaining the grounds, preparing compost, and cooking meals from the harvest. Taylor described the initiative as a method to connect children with religious teachings through practical activity. "It’s not just about the gardening," Taylor said. "It’s about them taking the word in."
Michael Warren, identified as the project’s master gardener, outlined the specific crops the group intends to grow, including onions, garlic, pomegranates, figs, and barley. Warren noted that these selections were made because they can thrive in the North Texas climate.
He met Taylor while working in the community service juvenile probation sector, where he observed that many young people were unaware of the origins of the food they purchased at grocery stores.
Warren explained that the youth often did not realize they could grow many of these items themselves. "A lot of them that we ran into had no idea where a lot of the foods that they were eating from the grocery store came from, and that they could actually grow a lot of those foods themselves," Warren said.
TFT Organization provides education and mentorship to children in areas such as financial wellness, safe gun usage, and career readiness. The group also collaborates with Tarrant County Juvenile Services. Carl Harris, a chef who owns Cravings Gourmet Catering, will assist the youth with meal preparation.
