2023 Issue 4 Jul/Aug Focus - Mid-South Magazine

At the start of 2021, Marisa Mender-Franklin posted on a
local “Buy Nothing” Facebook group asking for available
land in Midtown to start micro flower farms. Swiftly,
around 40 plots of land were offered in response, and
thus was the genesis of Midtown Bramble & Bloom. Her
goal was to create a symbiotic relationship “tucked away
in the backyards” of her Midtown community. 1 She offered
regenerative and maintained flower gardens in exchange
for paramount land.
Currently, Midtown Bramble & Bloom manages and
cultivates nine separate plots. Although there are a
few properties with planter rows, most of the flowers
are incorporated into garden beds that can be seen by
pedestrians. You can take a stroll down New York St. in the
Cooper Young neighborhood and see one yourself. For
this particular garden, Marisa also had the opportunity to
work with local muralist, Kristen Sandlin. The mural proudly
states in blue hand lettering, “Memphis is Blooming.”
By pairing flower gardens with public artwork, Midtown
Bramble & Bloom is creating landmarks, visual cues to a
beautiful relationship between community, ecosystem, and
urban architecture.
Bramble & Bloom grows mostly native plants and around
40% perennials, more than your average flower farm.
They’ve had a booth at the Cooper Young Farmers Market
for three years and have consistently been there weekly
for a year. They work year-round, with their peak seasons
being spring, summer and fall. During these seasons,
bouquet subscriptions (these are GREAT gift ideas, by the
way!) are available with local delivery or through pickup
at Urban Earth (80 Flicker St.). Urban Earth, a unique
Midtown nursery, offered Bramble & Bloom one of
their empty fridges for local customers to pick up
bouquets. It got them more foot traffic and Marisa
gained an additional space for transactions. It has
also freed up precious time that can now be used
to tend the gardens. In addition to individual
flower arrangements, Bramble & Bloom also
offers wedding and garden plot consultations,
as well as workshops, such as wreath making
in the winter, at Memphis Made Brewery (768
Cooper St.). In the coldest part of the year
they are busy landscaping and building new
beds for the upcoming growing season.
By emphasizing regenerative, sustainable,
and organic farming processes, Bramble &
Bloom creates synergy with the local community.
The trade between available urban farm land
offered by the community for maintained flower
gardens goes to show that in Memphis, you really can
“buy nothing.”
Follow Marisa on Instagram at @midtownbramble or visit
her website at midtownbramble.com to learn more about
her consultations, workshops, and bouquet subscriptions.
REFERENCE
1 . “Midtown Bramble and Bloom.” Midtown Bramble & Bloom. Accessed
June 12, 2023. midtownbramble.com.
JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com | Memphis Green 21