Community’s garden is a collaborative effort

Julie Gentry grew up in Homewood. She went to school in Homewood, and now her son is a student at Homewood Middle School.

Her next step is to give back to Homewood by creating a learning environment out of the vacant area where the old HMS once stood.

Gentry conceived the concept of a Homewood Community Garden more than two years ago. Her mission involves beautifying a looked-over piece of land, creating a learning experience for Homewood’s youth, using environmentally friendly techniques and, most importantly, bringing the community of Homewood together.

In March fifth grade students from Shades Cahaba Elementary School’s art club were responsible for installing the garden’s first art piece. A wooden frame contains canvas paintings from eight students and teacher Mary Jane Coker.

On one side are nine paintings of owls, representing Shades Cahaba’s contribution. On the reverse, colorful images of flowers, fruit and sunshine surround a painted silhouette of the Vulcan statue.

“Because it’s outside, it’s going to get worn down,” Gentry said. “[Coker] said, ‘I’m just going to keep this frame up here and when the art gets weathered, we can keep bringing more and more stuff up here to have a continual gallery.’ The kids realized that this strand of thread [from their canvas] could end up in a bird’s nest. I love that they got that that’s what we’re doing.”

Although still a long way from completion, Gentry has set things in motion for the garden to become a community center. Somewhat limited in funding, Gentry has relied on volunteers to help get the young garden to its current state.

Area Boy Scouts have chipped in, with one scout’s Eagle Scout service project resulting in an information guide structure, and another’s in the works to help create an outdoor classroom area in the garden.

Homewood’s Public Works Department has helped, too. The department has begun rerouting its compost waste so that it now helps the garden have healthier soil instead of going to a landfill.

“The city has had to pay to dump leaves in a landfill,” Gentry said. “I’m letting them dump here for free. So not only are they saving money, but they’re helping the garden, too.”

Samford’s chief campus chef Chris Vizzina is in on the garden as well. Vizzina, known for working with local produce, has signed on to help Homewood City School cafeterias learn the art of cooking local, using produce grown in the community garden.

“Most schools have a rule that you can’t grow your own food,” Gentry said. “For whatever reason, we don’t have that rule. So we’re going to get Chris in here and feed the kids fresh, locally grown food.”

Gentry wants to install environmentally friendly features such as solar panels and rain catchers throughout the garden, created by and for the community.

“I don’t want one person installing them,” she said. “I want people to learn all about it, and that can’t happen if somebody just does it in a back corner somewhere.”

Gentry’s number one goal for the garden is to be an area that brings every part of the community together. From wheelchair accessible beds to school involvement to activities for seniors, she wants to make sure the garden is enjoyed by all.