About Us

Connection. Collaboration. Growth

The Corner Orchard will be the only ADA accessible urban orchard, garden, production farm and learning space in Fort Worth- possibly in Texas. It’s only possible because our neighborhood is younger, more invested than ever in local improvement and wants us here. The block surrounding the orchard is filled with history, but it is also lined with new single family home construction, drainage renovation and street repair.

Our project is within the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone designated by the City of Fort Worth. The Orchard is aligned with the City of Fort Worth master plan, the New Stop Six Neighborhood of Choice Plan, and the goals outlined in project BluZones - a worldwide effort to improve the quality of life and longevity of earth’s citizens one small city at a time.

Our Story

David's Legacy

The land is enfolded in the heart of an historically Black community called Stop Six in Fort Worth, Texas.

It was purchased by ex NFL linebacker David Howard almost two decades ago with the intent of building a stronger Black Fort Worth. After discussing urban farming as a possible land use with community member and grower Whitney J, an idea was born for supporting Stop Six residents with a combined vision and unique approach.

The Corner Orchard is the product of David and Whitney’s shared love for food justice and David’s passion for supporting adults with disabilities after witnessing firsthand the carnage of professional sports.

The CO will not only provide food and herbs for a neighborhood deep within a food apartheid zone through a CSA program, but will be a safe space for solidarity, skill-sharing, creativity and mindful activity regardless of intellectual or physical capacity.

Calling himself a "Young Senior", David has held land and supported economic development in the Southside of Fort Worth for decades. After ending his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and then New England Patriots, he was anxious to establish a continuing legacy in Fort Worth. David focused his attention on community building, specifically by leveraging his properties to support local minority led construction firms and building a business that supported the care and needs of disabled adults, Empower Me, Inc. To further his vision as 76105 as a hub for neighborhood change, he created Urban Village Family Services.- a support network or "village" of area professionals activated to train and mentor adults working to increase their social and career competency.

The Veggie Project Collab

Collaboration over Competition

Urban Farming and food sovereignty are the cornerstone of the Veggie Project's work. David and his team were in search of partners who believed in neighborhood change and creating resilient communities, and the Oak Cliff Veggie project has made themselves subject experts in South Dallas with their life changing fresh food distributions and community led agriculture practice. They joined forces with Urban Village Family Services in 2024 in order to broaden both of their missions- safe and productive outdoor spaces for Black and brown people and self-reliant community led food systems in zip codes plagued by food apartheid- the intentional neglect of neighborhoods by city leaders that has led to an absence of fresh food sources for millions of people and the accompanying lowering of health and wellness outcomes including overall longevity.