The Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s urban home horticulture team hosted the 2025 Spring Community Garden Expo on February 25. The Expo was held in the Ernest Knight Center on the campus of Alabama A&M University, and targeted gardeners interested in starting a community garden, as well as community garden veterans. This was the second Spring Community Garden Expo in Alabama, with the first held in Birmingham in 2023.

About the Expo

Spring Community Garden Expo speakers delivered presentations on the following topics:

• Starting a community garden
• Siting the community garden
• Zoning laws
• Garden pests and diseases
• Fruits for small gardening areas
• Fertilizing and attracting pollinators

Presenters for 2025 included Urban Extension agents and specialist Marcus Garner, Hayes Jackson, Allyson Shabel, and Clement Akotsen-Mensah, as well as and Regional Agent Bethany O’Rear.

The Spring Community Garden Expo also included educational exhibits and demonstrations from outreach partners, such as:

• Society of St. Andrews, Alabama Mountains
• Alabama Mountains, Rivers and Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council
• Madison County Natural Resource Conservation District
• Alabama Master Gardeners
• North Alabama Food Bank

In addition, Alabama Extension Food Safety Agent Christy Mendoza set up an informational exhibit on food safety and preservation, and Urban SNAP-Ed Agent Della Taylor had an informational exhibit on the SNAP-Ed Program.

Each Community Garden Expo attendee received a bag with educational materials, four varieties of seeds for attracting pollinators to their garden, and a rain gauge to aid in water conservation efforts. Sponsors included the USDA-NIFA Capacity Building Grant (CBG) Program and the US Forestry Service, which sponsored a tree giveaway aimed at increasing urban tree canopy in Alabama. Trees, including figs, peaches, and pears, were provided by Bennett Nurseries and distributed to ten participants for use in their community gardens.

The People’s Patch Tour

The People’s Patch Farm in Madison County

The Spring Community Garden Expo wrapped up with a tour of The People’s Patch Madison Community Farm led by its Harvest Manager Jason Andra.

The People’s Patch was established in February 2024. Alabama A&M designated the land, while District 6 Madison County Commissioner Violet Edwards, oversees its daily operations. All fresh produce raised in The People’s Patch is provided to Madison County residents without charge.

Expo Impacts

Among 116 participants, 69 percent had not attended an Alabama Extension workshop in the past (n=71), and 97 percent (n=113) indicated they learned something new to use in their community or home garden. Overall, the 2025 Spring Community Garden Expo was a success.

The next Spring Community Garden Expo will be held in South Alabama in 2027.