Shovels And Rakes: Nashville Public Works Begins Loaning Out Garden Tools

In a nod to Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Veronica Frazier poses with David Cloniger of Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee. The tools will be available for pickup at the Metro Public Works headquarters. Credit: Blake Farmer / WPLN

Rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and even posthole diggers are now available through the city of Nashville. On Friday officials launched a program to loan out tools for community gardens and tree planting.

“Unfortunately, we can’t lend out to individuals,” says assistant director of Metro Public Works Veronica Frazier. “But if you have project that is for a neighborhood, for a community group, for a civic beautification project, that’s where we want to fill that void.”

After signing a waiver, organizers can reserve and check out tools at no charge. The borrower is responsible for any damage or stolen items. The tools were donated by Brentwood-based Tractor Supply Co.

Other cities have started similar programs. Austin created what’s called the “Tool Shack” in 2005.