Green Grace Gardens & Grounds is a two acre area surrounding Grace Episcopal Church. Located in Chattanooga’s first-ring suburb of Brainerd, it is the only green space in the densely populated, economically-mixed, urban neighborhood. The church grounds function as a public park and meeting space and is open to the community daily from dawn till dusk. The Gardens & Grounds were certified as a level two arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council in 2021.
Green Grace Gardens & Grounds are centered around a formal, semi-enclosed courtyard featuring a large fountain. Over many decades the original courtyard was lovingly tended by church members, but since 2010 other gardens were gradually added. The grounds are now managed as environmentally sustainable urban wildlife habitat. The grounds are co-chaired by two active Hamilton County master gardeners and are tended by a team of 15-20 volunteers, including 4 additional master gardeners.
The Green Grace Project was registered with the Hamilton County Master Gardeners in 2010. It is offered as a free gift to the greater community—as a place of respite and sanctuary for both humans and wildlife. The grounds include the following:
- A 21 raised bed community garden (Brainerd by Grace Community Garden), which rents beds as available to all community members. This active community garden was begun in 2010 and completed in 2012.
- A 3-bin community compost
drop-off station, which was funded by a Hamilton County Master Gardener grant in 2011. - A pavilion with a living green roof, open to the public.
- Free, “U-Pick” Vegetable, Cutting, and Berry Gardens.
- Five certified Butterfly/Pollinator Gardens which are being transitioned to native plant gardens.
- The Project Leaders have hosted numerous classes, plant sales and plant giveaways, and two large scale pollinator protection rallies, all for the general public. The gardens and grounds have been on several local garden tours, including that of the annual national conference of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA).
- Incidental to the project, the church also hosts both a weekly food giveaway through its food pantry, and operates a weekly farmers market on-site, offering 2-for-1 SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) credit for food bought.
Awards and Certifications:
- Green Grace Garden and Grounds was certified by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council as a Level Two Arboretum in December of 2021. The garden map identifies 73 species of trees and 16 species of shrubs. Each is labeled with its common and scientific name and has a QR code which links to more information about each species.
- The Gardens & Grounds received an Oak Level award from the Chattanooga Tree Commission in 2012 for our preservation of the church’s mature tree canopy. Additionally, the trees are registered in Chattanooga’s Notable Trees Register, as a combined grove of outstanding, mature canopy trees.
- The church grounds were recognized in 2015 for their example promoting environmentally-sound landscaping practices and for public education by the Tennessee Valley Wild Ones Chapter.
- The entire grounds were certified in 2011 as a National Wildlife Federation Urban Wildlife habitat, in 2012 as a North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Butterfly Habitat, and in 2015 as a Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
Visit: Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Avenue, Chattanooga, TN, 37411
