Reaping What We Sow: Fort Worth’s Tool Shed Program at Work

Published on April 01, 2025

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Mow your own lawn before judging your neighbor’s”—or some version of it. When our Code Compliance team decided to launch the Fort Worth Mobile Tool Shed, they didn’t expect it to become a beacon for better living.

In its debut, the city’s newly launched Tool Shed rolled through the Worth Heights neighborhood, exceeding expectations.

“It’s so good, nutritionally,” said Crystal Mitchell. She owns a property in the heart of the city and provides a safe living space for people recovering from difficult situations, often helping them regain their footing. Beyond helping residents turn over a new leaf, she’s taking it one step further—giving them an opportunity to reap what they’ve sown, both literally and metaphorically.

“To be able to grow your own garden vegetables—it’s amazing.”

As part of her program, she’s helping residents plant their own gardens and grow their own vegetables using tools from the Mobile Tool Shed.

“We were doing some work on the yard, poking around the City of Fort Worth website, and saw that they had a tool loan program,” said Crystal.

The Mobile Tool Shed offers a wide range of useful equipment to help homeowners maintain their properties—for free. From lawnmowers and weed eaters to blowers, the tools are available to thousands of residents who want to keep their properties looking neat. It’s a sentiment shared by Crystal and her housemates.

“The loaner program is just great because a lot of times, you don’t need to purchase the tool—you just need it for a short time. It’s helping the community as a whole.”

The City is encouraging residents in select neighborhoods to continue taking advantage of the free program. To learn more visit our website.