Growing Food, Building Community: A Conversation with Robert “Rob Veggies” Horton of Trap Garden

In September, we spoke with Rob Horton, founder of Trap Garden, a Nashville, TN-based nonprofit that transforms underutilized spaces into thriving community gardens. Rob Veggies’ journey began with frustration over food deserts and lack of healthy options in his own neighborhood, and grew into a movement that blends culture, health, and empowerment. In this conversation, Rob Veggies shares his thoughts on food sovereignty, the story behind Trap Garden, and why even the smallest balcony or windowsill can be a self-led solution and starting point for growing food and community. 

Harold: What does food sovereignty or food justice mean to you?
Rob: The first thing is access — being able to go within your community to a storefront, a farmer’s market, or a garden that offers something fresh and healthy for your body. The second is affordability. Even if healthy food is available, people need to be able to afford it and bring it home to feed their families. Finally, ownership. Growing up, many of the stores I went to were family-run. They lived in the neighborhood, they knew what people wanted, and they provided it. Ownership gives communities real control over their food.

Harold: What inspired you to start Trap Garden?
Rob: I grew up in a food desert. We didn’t have direct access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Even when we could get to a grocery store, transportation limited what we could bring home. Later, in college in Nashville, TN, I saw the same thing. Out of frustration, I rented a garden plot at Tennessee State University (TSU). The elders there taught me how to grow. I started bringing friends, who got interested and helped. It grew from there — I wanted to create a dope experience for my generation, to show them this is something we can do.

Harold: Many people think they need a big yard to garden. What do you say to someone who only has a balcony or a few containers?
Rob: Grow where you’re planted. Use what you have and start small. Even with a big space, people often do too much too soon. Herbs on a windowsill are perfect — they save money, taste great, and give you a quick win. If you have a community garden nearby, that’s also a great, low-cost option.

Harold: How has Trap Garden helped people, especially young people, see that growing food is possible anywhere?
Rob: We create unique experiences. It’s not just about gardening — we’ve done demos at festivals and music events, and partnered with schools. We’ve also revitalized spaces and made them youth-centered. By making the experience fun, creative, and culturally relevant, people want to come back and keep growing.

Harold: Can you share examples of how even a small garden can make a big difference?
Rob: At the TSU community garden, I saw elders share knowledge, swap produce, and build real community. During COVID, we provided grow boxes to families. People emailed us years later saying they still use them — and that it gave them something positive to do with their kids. Small steps like that can change people’s outlook.

Harold: Tell us about the grow boxes.
Rob: We partnered with a corporation to provide 4×4 pop-up kits. Families applied, and we brought them straight to their doors — what we called the Trap Garden Experience. We gave them instructions and support so they felt part of the Trap Garden family. Even people in apartments used them on balconies. It was a great way to reach people where they were.

Harold: What are some easy, low-cost ways for beginners to start growing food?
Rob: Start with transplants instead of seeds — that way you see growth right away. Tomatoes, for example, can keep producing all summer. Herbs on a sunny windowsill are another simple option. It doesn’t take a lot of money, just care and attention.

Harold: Trap Garden isn’t just about vegetables. How do health, culture, and empowerment show up in your work?
Rob: Culture is first. Most communities we work in are African-American, like the one I grew up in. When people volunteer, they hear trap music, they eat familiar foods like pizza — but maybe vegan pizza this time. We put a cultural spin on it so it feels fun and authentic. From there, we introduce health — showing new, healthier options. It’s about making the experience engaging and real for people.

Harold: What’s the story behind the name “Trap Garden”?
Rob: It comes from the idea of a trap house — a place people return to for something that isn’t good for them. We flipped it. We want people hooked on gardening, coming back again and again for something that is good for their body and their community.

Harold: What’s happening in Trap Garden right now?
Rob: We’re helping people prepare for fall, but also expanding digitally. We just launched GrowTogether, a web-based app that tells you what grows best in your zone, when to water, when to weed, and when to harvest. Right now we’re piloting it in Missouri and Tennessee, but we want to grow it nationwide.

Harold: What do you hope people carry with them when they start gardening in their own small spaces?
Rob: I hope they find it enjoyable and peaceful. Gardening should look like what you want it to look like — with your music, your style, your pace. It should bring relaxation and joy, while also being good for your body and your environment.

Harold: What music do you recommend for gardening?
Rob: Anything with heavy bass that gives you energy. For me, that’s trap music — Jeezy, T.I., artists from my generation who get me pumped up. One classic is Thug Motivation 101 by Jeezy. Whatever makes you feel good, that’s what you should play while you grow.

Robert “Rob Veggies” Horton’s vision for Trap Garden (trapgarden.org/) shows how food justice can take root anywhere — from a grow box on a balcony to a community garden plot. By combining cultural expression, hands-on education, and accessible tools like the new GrowTogether app, Trap Garden is inspiring a new generation to see gardening not just as growing food, but as cultivating health, joy, and community.