FORT WORTH HAS JUST GOTTEN A NEW FOREST — AND IT’S FUNKY!

FORT WORTH HAS JUST GOTTEN A NEW FOREST — AND IT’S FUNKY!

FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Fort Worth has long known Forest Park as one of its great urban treasures — a scenic green space along the Trinity River filled with trees, trails, recreation, history, and life.

But now, another kind of forest is beginning to rise in Fort Worth.

Not just a park.

A food forest.

In the heart of 76104 — a community too often described as a food desert and burdened by one of the lowest life expectancies in Texas — a new vision is emerging from the soil.

On the National Day of Prayer, members of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas, and Guns to Gardens of Tarrant County gathered for a day of praying and planting. They were joined by Ken and P. Wade Ross, Central Texas farmers and ranchers from College Station, who came to teach, inspire, and help the community learn how to grow sweet watermelons and fresh produce in the church’s community garden.

What began as a garden lesson became a God-given vision.

As the day came to a close, P. Wade Ross looked over the land and said he could see this food desert becoming a food forest.

That word stirred something in Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

From that moment came the vision:

THE FUNKYTOWN FOOD FOREST OF FORT WORTH

A living, learning garden where churches can use their land to grow food, teach children, create community income, and help heal violence in their neighborhoods from the ground up.

Since 2018, New Mount Rose has been plowing forward in Morningside — feeding families, serving seniors, supporting children, and seeking new ways to bring life, health, and hope to 76104.

Now, the seed has been planted.

Funkytown just got a new forest.

And this forest is growing faith, food, and a future.

FEED THE FLOCK FROM A GARDEN BOX

Along with a new name comes a new concept.

“Feed The Flock From A Garden Box” is an innovative raised garden bed concept built from wooden pallets with enough growing space to help feed an entire block along with the pastor’s flock.

The vision is simple but powerful:

Turn unused church land into productive promise land.

Grow fresh fruits and vegetables.
Teach children how to live from the land.
Create healthier neighborhoods.
Build economic opportunity.
And help heal communities from the ground up.

Community leaders believe churches across Fort Worth and beyond can become centers for food, faith, wellness, and neighborhood restoration.

Those interested in becoming part of the vision to transform church land into a promise land for fresh fruits and vegetables are encouraged to contact:

Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church
Fort Worth, Texas
817-966-7625

To support the vision through Zelle:
newmtrosembc@gmail.com

“We will heal from the steel when we turn our guns into gardens and become loyal to the soil to be a blessing for our souls at New Mount Rose.”

Bible
“He shall judge between the nations and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares…”