We’re Worker-Owned!

After transitioning to a worker-owned cooperative in 2021, Nashville Foodscapes, LLC carries forward the legacy of Nashville Foodscapes, a sole propietorship founded by Jeremy Lekich and Vanessa Paz.

Nashville Foodscapes, LLC is one of the first worker-owned cooperatives in Tennessee. We operate under membership of the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives and as friends of the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development.

As a worker-owned cooperative, Nashville Foodscapes, LLC practices workplace democracy where all workers are encouraged to participate in decision-making processes that impact their everyday lives. By valuing agency and self-determination, our co-op offers an alternative workplace model within capitalism that is capable of shifting power, and wealth, into the hands of working people. In our co-op, we strive to honor labor of all kinds, to care for each other by planning for the future, to seek balance by encouraging rest and respecting boundaries, and to practice transparency through access to information and direct communication.

How It Works

At Nashville Foodscapes, LLC, employees become eligible for co-op membership after 3,000 hours (about 2 years) of employment. After being accepted as a member (or, worker-owner), members participate in democratic decision-making and are eligible to receive a share of the profits generated by their labor (based on total hours worked).

Our worker-owners meet once a year to approve budgets, amend governing documents, etc. They also appoint 3-6 employees to the Leadership Team, which meets monthly to oversee the general direction of the co-op. Leadership Team members do not have to be members (worker-owners), but must meet certain qualifications. Because every worker has a stake in the co-op’s success, all workers have more autonomy, authority, and responsibility than workers in similar roles in conventional landscaping firms.

Rather than operating to maximize profit, cooperatives organize to maximize workplace satisfaction, safety, and fulfillment. We seek to do good work without exploiting workers, clients, or the environment. Profit is a secondary concern. We do this because we believe investing in our community is worthwhile.