Slade, Dunn’s urban garden grows food for the homeless

Slade, Dunn’s urban garden grows food for the homeless

Green Innovator Finalist
Date: Friday, October 29, 2010, 5:00am CDT

L’Tryce Slade, director of Slade, a land use company in Birmingham, said she got the idea for an urban construction garden after she was hired by Dunn Real Estate, a development company, to inspect the undeveloped location on Alabama 304.

Until commercial development springs up at a vacant site in Calera, visitors can continue expecting fresh produce thanks to a partnership’s “green” idea.

L’Tryce Slade, director of Slade, a land use company in Birmingham, said she got the idea for an urban construction garden after she was hired by Dunn Real Estate, a development company, to inspect the undeveloped location on Alabama 304.

With the blessing of Dunn executives, including President Chris Hoyt, she created a garden on a little less than an acre of the 40-acre site earlier this year. Instead of contending with the problems vacant lots can attract, Hoyt and his employees are growing fruit trees, blueberries, zucchini, eggplant, corn and tomatoes.

“While some plants did better than others, we grew a lot of produce that was delivered to homeless shelters,” Hoyt said.

The idea is blossoming into the prospect of partnering with nonprofit organizations in Shelby or Jefferson counties.

Their volunteers will organically cultivate the garden in exchange for the produce, which will be used to assist local food shelters.

Slade said one group is already on board and another has shown interest, but the urban garden could also benefit schools or organizations with the mentally challenged using the location as a practical learning tool.

“I would really like to see it grow a lot more,” Slade said.

Hoyt is equally enthused. He is eyeing another piece of development property on U.S. 31 as another prospective garden site. The entire family of Dunn companies has environmental stewardship programs.

“I am an avid gardener and outdoorsman,” he said. “Combining my love of gardening with the desire to do something productive with our Calera land ultimately motivated me to move forward with the urban construction garden.”