One of the most special things about the Miller Heritage Community Garden at 1311 Jourolman Avenue is its proximity to the Western Heights Baptist Center (WHBC), a long-standing community resource that has provided relief and support to those in need throughout the neighborhood. Because the Miller Garden is just steps away, the Alliance is able to donate fresh produce to their food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays simply by carrying it over on foot.
Another wonderful benefit of having WHBC as its neighbor is the Western Heights Community Garden and Education Program, led by Teleia Burns. Teleia’s program has a smaller garden of its own at the Center, and the Miller Heritage Community Garden provides additional space for students to expand their hands-on gardening experiences. This season, we planted a pumpkin patch with the students, along with sweet potato slips and bush beans from seed. At the end of the day, everyone harvested carrots and tasted them fresh from the garden!
We have also collaborated with Teliea’s after-school program through a pickling demonstration led by community leader Vivian Williams. The Alliance harvested and donated cucumbers for the class so that each of the 30 students could make a jar of pickles to take home.
We look forward to continuing these collaborations and building stronger connections with the children, staff, and community members connected to Western Heights Baptist Center and the surrounding neighborhood as the Miller Heritage Community Garden rounds out its very first, productive growing season.