Every other Wednesday during the summer months, a local grassroots organization gathers neighbors together on the front lawn of Woodbine United Methodist Church, which faces the neighborhood’s busy Nolensville Pike corridor. Cosecha Community Development's market thrives as a vibrant hub of community and commerce in South Nashville, hosting a small but mighty range of businesses and nonprofits as diverse as the Woodbine neighborhood’s own dynamic cultural landscape.
At Cosecha's market, visitors are greeted by a patchwork of sights, sounds, and aromas that reflect the city's blend of cultural traditions. The savory scent of Guatemalan potatoes, or papas Guatemaltecas, wafts through the market as the vendors cook them made-to-order right in the tent. Patrons browse racks of brightly colored clothing and vibrant displays of handmade soaps. On a makeshift stage on the steps of the church, a pair of young musicians performs cover songs in English and Spanish.
From locally grown produce to handcrafted goods, each vendor contributes to a marketplace that celebrates authenticity and connection. There’s a familial energy in the air as curious neighborhood visitors mingle with growers, artists, and makers, building relationships that go beyond transactions. Children run across the lawn as people sit and eat together, and it truly feels like a gathering of old friends.
For the first time this summer, the market also includes a selection of fresh produce from Growing Together, an urban farm tucked on an acre of land just a few miles down the road from Cosecha. Growing Together is stewarded by The Nashville Food Project and provides marketing support, resources, and land for new American farmers who face barriers to access, as well as training for beginning farmers. The four farming families who hold plots there grew over 35,000 pounds of produce last year, moving their vegetables to tables across Nashville through an annual Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, regular sales to restaurant partners, and a community sharing model.
The Growing Together farmers each came to Nashville as immigrants or refugees, and many live in the Woodbine neighborhood. They have deep farming roots and, while they still produce familiar veggies like carrots, lettuces, tomatoes and potatoes, they also grow crops you won’t find in a chain grocery store, from long beans to bitter gourd to kohlrabi. Many of the crops they grow are reflective of their own cooking traditions, which stem from their Burmese and Bhutanese heritages.
For all of these farmers, barriers like language and transportation make selling at market very challenging, despite their agricultural knowledge and quality produce. This year, a pilot partnership is allowing the farmers to sell wholesale directly to Cosecha Community Development, who resells their produce at the market in an effort to mitigate those barriers. For this organization, which celebrates, connects and uplifts immigrant communities, this partnership is just another touchpoint for community-building. This season, The Nashville Food Project’s stand is the only place at the market to get fresh produce, providing an important source of local food to the neighborhood.
Beyond its role as a marketplace, Cosecha Community Development has woven itself into the fabric of Nashville's community by providing support and resources to budding entrepreneurs and underrepresented groups. Through workshops, mentorship programs, a language school and community gardens, Cosecha fosters community to build a healthier, more connected neighborhood where gathering together is a priority.
With a commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, Cosecha Community Development's market in Nashville exemplifies how grassroots efforts can uplift the unique identities that define a city. Cosecha's market beckons as a place where community, creativity, and commerce come together, and vendors share a piece of themselves.
Miss out on a CSA this year? Come get some Growing Together produce and see this great market for yourself every other Wednesday from 4 - 7 p.m. at 2621 Nolensville Pike!