On a bright February Saturday morning, a diverse group of volunteers gathered in an underserved West Phoenix neighborhood to take part in a powerful act of community care: planting 60 trees and 100 vegetable starts in the empty parkways lining the streets. This effort, led by Christopher Macy, is more than just a greening initiative—it’s a movement to reclaim and revitalize a neighborhood often overlooked by city planners and developers, and to become the country’s largest urban food forest in the process.

Dozens of fruit tree saplings sit in rows waiting to be planted: from Black Mission Figs to Navel Oranges and Mexican Limes, Ghost Apples to Parfianka Pomegranates and Desert Gold Peaches. Nearby are even more vegetable starts, from chilis to cauliflowers, that will be interplanted with the trees to complete the agroforestry vision of feeding the community.

As volunteers began digging, they hit an unexpected challenge: old buried concrete, a remnant of the irrigation infrastructure that once watered this land when it was farmland just over a decade ago. The irony was not lost on the group. What was once fertile agricultural land had been paved over and compacted, leaving behind rocky, depleted soil - Maricopa County has lost farmland at unprecedented rates. Macy sees his mission as a way to restore that lost fertility and bring the land back to life.

Christopher Macy’s Journey into Urban Agriculture

Christopher Macy, a local resident and former Navy serviceman, has dedicated his life to transforming his community through urban agriculture. Inspired by guerrilla gardener Ron Finley and local urban food forest advocate Jake Mace, Macy began his journey in 2017 when he purchased a home in the 35th Avenue corridor near Van Buren Street. What started as a backyard experiment soon evolved into a full-fledged initiative, proving that food forests could thrive in the desert climate of Phoenix.

Macy started at home, with a backyard garden, that has transformed to house a variety of animals, including a proud, strutting three-year-old pet turkey named Ignacio, as well as female turkeys, chickens, ducks, and a tilapia pond. Among the lush greenery, olive trees stand tall, and his favorite, a mulberry tree, provides shade and sustenance to both people and wildlife. Now fully in love with growing things, Macy decided to share the bounty beyond his fences, with his neighborhood and community as well.

The Food Forest Begins to Sprout

Despite initial skepticism from his neighbors, Macy persisted. He invested over $125,000 of his own money into planting trees and vegetables throughout the neighborhood, cultivating 20 parkways with more than 150 perennial vegetable plants and 230 fruit trees. His vision is simple but profound: by providing access to fresh food, he can help combat food insecurity, foster community pride, and reduce crime.

Macy’s mission goes beyond planting trees—it’s about creating lasting solutions to systemic issues. Many of his neighbors lack transportation to access grocery stores, relying instead on Dollar General for food. By growing fruit and vegetables locally, Macy is providing a sustainable alternative. His work also challenges overdevelopment, protecting the neighborhood from out-of-state corporations that see historic communities as expendable.

It’s not just about food production. By encouraging his neighbors to take ownership of their surroundings, he is fostering a sense of community and mutual responsibility. His efforts have inspired residents to care for the parkways, maintain the trees, and, in some cases, plant their own gardens.

Bringing the Community Together

The recent planting event exemplifies Macy’s vision. Volunteers from all walks of life, including young families, retirees, and students, came together to dig, water, and mulch. Conversations flowed as people exchanged gardening tips and shared their personal motivations for joining the initiative. Some were inspired by environmental concerns, while others saw it as an opportunity to contribute to a project that directly benefits their community.

One of Macy’s neighbors, an elderly woman with diabetes, received a fig tree for her yard and another for her parkway. He makes a special effort to plant fig trees near the homes of diabetic residents, knowing the fruit’s potential health benefits. Other trees planted that day included the citrus varieties most requested by neighbors, as well as ghost apples, desert gold peaches, and pomegranates, all carefully chosen to provide a rich diversity of fresh produce.

His project has also had a profound effect on social dynamics. One of his most dedicated volunteers, Carlos, has been instrumental in watering the parkways. Living across the street, Carlos has been somewhat of an outcast due to his race, but through this shared mission, he has found a place of belonging and purpose. The act of growing food has, in many ways, become a catalyst for deeper community connections and healing.

His work has also garnered partnerships, such as a collaboration with the Arizona Diamondbacks to distribute gardening kits to residents and a coming partnership with Grand Canyon University. Through the process, the effort has received administrative support, mentorship and encouragement from the non-profit organization Growing to Give. The Urban Farm has also been a big supporter, donating 68 additional fruit trees.

Facing Down Challenges

The challenges have been numerous. From city regulations attempting to penalize him for keeping chickens (a charge he successfully fought with the help of city council members - luckily the rules have now changed) to personal struggles, including losing his father and his job at USAA, Macy has faced adversity head-on. Yet, his commitment to his community remains unwavering. In fact, he credits the loss of his father with inspiring him to search for how to live a meaningful life that reinstilled and renewed his dedication to the urban food forest project.

On a practical front, one logistical headache has been watering the trees. For a long time, he and his dedicated neighbor, Carlos, hauled 500 feet of hose to reach all of the parkways. More recently, they’ve transitioned to using a water tank in the bed of a pickup truck, a change that has made the process significantly easier. Macy acknowledges that his food forest project wouldn’t be possible without Carlos’s help, underscoring the importance of community collaboration in maintaining this vision.

He is now looking toward the future, working with community partners to expand his efforts, install drip irrigation systems, and teach others how to replicate his model. Through his initiative, he accepts donations of fruit trees and other resources to continue his work. His ultimate goal is not just to beautify his neighborhood but to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where neighbors can rely on each other and their environment for nourishment and security.

Becoming the Nation’s Largest Food Forest

Macy firmly believes that planting trees is about more than just food—it’s about reclaiming spaces and rewriting narratives. He has pointed out that Phoenix was built on old agricultural land, yet modern development has ignored the lessons of the past. His efforts are about honoring that history and ensuring that the land remains productive for future generations, and he works in honor of the memory of his father, who provided a shining example of what a good person looks like.

Looking ahead, Macy plans to continue expanding his initiative. He hopes to provide more structured support for residents who want to start their own urban food forests, offering workshops on soil health, irrigation techniques, and sustainable gardening practices. He also aims to advocate for policy changes that support urban agriculture and protect community-grown food sources from unnecessary regulations.

Ultimately, Macy’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, vision, and community. As the newly planted trees take root and the vegetable starts flourish, they symbolize more than just greenery—they represent resilience, hope, and a shared commitment to a better future for all.

Interested in volunteering or making a donation to help grow the largest urban food forest in the country? You can make a donation here, or follow or reach out to Growing to Give on social media to stay up-to-date on volunteer opportunities.