Supporting Western North Carolina’s Community Forests
Who We Are
We are a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit supporting Western North Carolina resident-led groups in the stewardship of community greenspaces, street trees, and food forests. We believe we are stronger together. By strengthening the roles, rights, and responsibilities of local resident-led groups in implementing and stewarding projects we can, together, improve ecological health while building resilient, connected communities.
What We Do
From neighborhood street tree plantings and community orchards, to pollinator gardens, streambank restoration, and pocket parks, we support formal and informal neighborhood organizations and schools in bringing shared visions for community greenspaces to life.
WNC Grows provides tailored support based on each group’s goals and capacity. This includes planning assistance, site assessments, co-visioning facilitation, community outreach strategies, and species selection. During community workdays we provide tools, trees, perennials, and other planting materials, along with hands-on guidance. We also offer ongoing stewardship education and long-term support to help projects thrive into the future.
Why We Do It
Because access to nature shouldn’t stop at the edge of a national forest.
Because pocket parks, schoolyards, and tree-lined streets matter.
Because when neighbors plant together, something bigger takes root.
Our work is rooted in a simple observation: access to nature—especially close to home— shapes the health and resilience of a community.
When neighbors plant and steward together, resilience grows—in the soil and in the social fabric.
