More than three dozen people gathered April 17 to celebrate the opening of the Miller Heritage Community Garden, a new neighborhood growing space rooted in more than a century of family history and community stewardship in Knoxville’s Western Heights area.
Located at 1311 Jourolman Avenue, the garden now sits on land that has remained in the Miller family for generations. The event, hosted by the Knox County Community Gardens and Growers’ Alliance, marked both a ribbon-cutting ceremony and recognition of the property’s transformation from a family homestead into a community-centered space designed to expand access to fresh food and strengthen neighborhood connections.
Alliance Executive Director Chris Battle opened the ceremony by blessing the land with a prayer by Saint Christopher of Burlington, grounding the moment in reflection. Additional remarks were delivered by Alliance Board Chair Caesar Stair, Garden Manager Emily Brewer, and members of the Bullis family, whose donation of the land made the project possible.
“My mom always told us, do not sell the land, you keep the land, and then you always have something. So that has always stuck in my head, money is not the most important thing,” said Sandra Bullis. “When I heard about the Knox County Community Garden and Growers Alliance, a light came on. What if we could use this land for a garden? And that is what has brought us all here today, something that keeps giving back to the community, something that we know if someone is hungry, this garden is going to provide.”
The Miller Heritage Community Garden’s history runs deep. The family’s lineage traces back to Martin Luther Miller (1758–1838), who served in the American Revolution under General George Washington. Generations that followed include Marcus De Lafayette Miller (1856–1938), the original documented owner of the property; William Henry Miller (1877–1952), who served in the Spanish-American War; and William Lewis Miller (1913–1982), a World War II veteran.
In a letter written while serving overseas, William Lewis Miller reflected on the rhythms of home, noting it was nearly time to begin working the garden. He also described how his mother, grandmother, and aunt were making quilts from his old clothes, offering a glimpse into the family’s resourcefulness and close-knit bonds.
That history remained visible on the property even in recent years. Before the original home was demolished in April 2020, canned goods could still be found in the dirt-floor cellar, a reminder of the generations who lived and worked on the land when it was known as 729 Jourolman Avenue.
The idea to transform the site into a community garden began in fall 2024, when Sandra Davis Bullis contacted the Alliance with a vision to use her family’s land to benefit the neighborhood. After meeting with Alliance staff on Oct. 14, 2024, a five-year lease agreement was finalized and took effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Since then, the Alliance has worked to prepare the property, culminating on Valentine’s Day 2026 when volunteers and staff came together to build, place, and fill 30 raised beds. The effort, supported by community volunteers, including JB Jones and his tractor, helped bring the garden to life.
Today, 29 of those beds are available for adoption by neighborhood residents, while one was donated to and is now part of the Western Heights Baptist Center’s Youth Garden. That connection and partnership also reflect family history, as members of the Bullis family were involved with the Center during its early years.
As part of the Alliance’s growing network of community gardens across Knox County, the Miller Heritage Community Garden is expected to increase access to fresh produce, support the Western Heights Baptist Center Food Pantry, and provide educational opportunities for youth and families in the Western Heights, Mechanicsville, and Lonsdale neighborhoods.
