Seniors show green thumbs through community garden at New Merkle House

Several Vestavia Hills seniors are getting their hands dirty by taking care of the New Merkle House’s community garden.

As part of the senior lunch program, a garden was planted to celebrate Earth Day in April, but the seniors will continue to care for the vegetables and herbs year-round.

The garden consists of two raised planting beds made possible by the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation department. The Lowe’s home improvement store on U.S. 280 also helped with the purchase of the materials. The beds were built higher than normal, about two feet, so that it would be easier for seniors and volunteers to access them.

Senior center manager Melanie Perry said the garden was an effort to provide the seniors with an enriching activity and give them something they could nurture and take care of.

“It’s not just an activity to enjoy,” she said. “It’s something they can be proud of.”

Perry added that it’s also something tangible that, hopefully, they will be able to take home and share with others.

Most of the seniors who participate in the senior lunch program have farmed or gardened in the past, Perry said, so creating a garden was a natural fit.

Eddie Mauter, who comes regularly to the lunch program, said he has gardened for most of his life. Mauter said that until he fell last year, he has always had at least a few tomato plants, and was glad to see the other seniors enjoying an activity that he loves.

“It’s just amazing that everybody participated,” he said.

Hellen Lann said she is looking forward to caring for the garden, as she grew up a farmer’s daughter and has always loved growing vegetables.

Perry said the seniors will get to enjoy the fruits of their labor, particularly the tomatoes, as she said tomato sandwiches are a group favorite. 

Anything left over will be shared with the area’s homebound seniors, something Perry said is an example of the kindness and thoughtfulness the seniors approach life with.

She also said the group intends to have something growing in the garden year round, transitioning to cooler-weather vegetables such as cabbage and collard greens this fall.

Lann, who is looking forward to that cabbage, said she is excited.

“I can’t wait to watch it bloom,” she said.