Rosewood Food Forest Grows in Southeast Portland
The 0.75-acre project uses regenerative planting to provide fresh produce for families and address local food insecurity.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Organic Food
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Families in the Rosewood neighborhood now have access to a growing food forest designed to curb grocery costs and address regional food insecurity. The Rosewood Initiative is spearheading the project, which utilizes a regenerative model to provide fresh produce for the community.
Why it matters
With one in five children in Oregon and southwest Washington facing food insecurity, the project seeks to provide a sustainable, low-maintenance source of nutrition for local families. The effort highlights a shift toward community-led agricultural solutions to help manage household grocery bills.
The 0.75-acre food forest is projected to yield 2,000 pounds of produce annually. This initiative aims to assist in a region where 1 in 5 children experience food insecurity.
The players
The Rosewood Initiative
A community-focused organization that manages the food forest project and community center in southeast Portland.
Portland Clean Energy Fund
A city-funded program that provides financial support for community-led environmental and sustainability projects.
The details
Operating out of a space established in 2022, the Rosewood Initiative uses regenerative agriculture to plant fruit and nut trees alongside shrubs in mixed arrangements. Community members participate in the work and harvesting every Sunday, supported by funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund. The design focuses on long-term productivity to reduce maintenance requirements for the three-quarter-acre site.
Timeline
2022: The Rosewood Initiative moved into its current project space.
Sundays: Community members gather to harvest and plant crops.
Beyond the Bridges
The Rosewood project follows the investment pattern established by the Portland Clean Energy Fund to support neighborhood-scale climate and food resilience. This development represents a shift toward localized, regenerative agricultural models to address food access.
Residents in the Rosewood neighborhood can participate in planting and harvesting activities every Sunday at the site. This project offers a tangible opportunity to engage with community-grown food resources that may eventually help offset household grocery expenses.
The takeaway
The Rosewood food forest demonstrates how regenerative planting can turn small, urban parcels into long-term sources of fresh nutrition. Neighbors interested in participating should visit the community center on Sundays to help with ongoing planting and harvest work.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to increase access to fresh produce in our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPTV.
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