From Backyard to City Block: Chris Macy’s Vision for Phoenix’s Food Forest Future

Episode Summary:

In this transformative episode of "Harvesting Wisdom," host Mike McMahon speaks with Chris Macy, founder of the Phoenix Food Forest Initiative, a grassroots movement transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant food-producing ecosystems. Starting from a barren backyard during the pandemic, Chris shares his journey of building parkway food forests that now stretch across neighborhoods, aligning with the ethos of climate-smart agriculture, sustainability, and community resilience.

Chris reflects on his inspiration from food justice pioneers like Ron Finley and Jake Mace, his battles and collaborations with the City of Phoenix, and how foodscapes can serve as practical, spiritual, and social anchors in low-income, underserved areas. As the largest urban food forest initiative in the U.S., this project is building not just gardens—but a blueprint for equitable, edible cities.

Listeners will discover how to get involved, from volunteering and donating trees to supporting the broader movement that aligns with the UN’s sustainability goals. This episode is a call to "Leave a Social Footprint" and help rebuild Phoenix from the ground up—literally.

Why Listen?

At "Harvesting Wisdom," we believe that "We have all taken a bite out of the apple" and share a responsibility to address the challenges of sustainability. This episode exemplifies how one person can inspire a city-wide transformation by closing the gap between information and action. Whether you're a gardener, policymaker, or community builder, Chris Macy’s story will empower you with the practical tools and motivation needed to cultivate resilience in your neighborhood and beyond.

Timestamps:

• 00:02 – Introduction to Chris Macy and Phoenix Food Forest Initiative
• 02:07 – Chris’s journey from banking to urban gardening
• 04:39 – Navigating regulations and working with the City of Phoenix
• 06:42 – Legal challenges with backyard chickens and advocacy wins
• 08:05 – Starting a foodscape: practical tips for Zone 9B
• 12:16 – Top fruit trees for Phoenix and building local partnerships
• 15:11 – Community ownership and transformation of parkways
• 16:46 – Walkway installation plans and accessibility goals
• 18:21 – Collaboration with schools like Garfield Elementary
• 20:27 – A spiritual take on gardening and community health
• 22:22 – Linking foodscapes with environmental and social justice
• 25:19 – Partnerships with food banks to avoid waste
• 26:26 – Challenges with theft and tree loss
• 28:20 – How residents and listeners can get involved
• 29:05 – Long-term vision: expanding the initiative citywide
• 30:02 – Impressive metrics: 200+ fruit trees, 20 parkways
• 31:02 – Partnering with Growing to Give and building nonprofit alliances
• 32:54 – Chris’s closing thoughts: one block at a time

Social Media & Website:

• Website: RebuildingLifeGardens.com
• Connect or Support: https://dot.cards/phoenix_food_forest_initiative_

Call to Action:

Support the Phoenix Food Forest Initiative
Your donations help expand edible parkways, sustain vibrant urban ecosystems, and provide fresh, healthy food for underserved neighborhoods in Phoenix. Whether it’s a fruit tree, a few hours of your time, or a financial contribution—every bit helps grow the movement.
Donate or volunteer today: https://dot.cards/phoenix_food_forest_initiative_

#FoodJustice #UrbanGardening #Permaculture #ClimateSmartAgriculture #SustainableCommunities #PhoenixFoodForest #EdibleLandscapes #Communit