Bush Hills Community Garden in Birmingham, Alabama, was a 2021 recipient of NCHPAD’s Accelerating Disability Inclusion: Community-Based Micro-Grants (CDC Grant #5NU27DD001157). The initiative was designed to promote inclusion and accessibility for individuals with mobility limitations across Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods through Mindfulness, Exercise, and Nutrition to Optimize Resilience (MENTOR).

The project, titled “Accelerating Community Engagement Opportunities with Individuals with Disabilities,” used grant funding to install several raised garden beds and purchase cooking equipment, a ring light, iPads, a camera, a computer with accessories, and gardening supplies. The Bush Hills team offers educational classes throughout the year that teach participants how to plant and grow healthy herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

These additions have created more opportunities for meaningful participation for people with mobility disabilities. In this video, the Bush Hills team shares their thoughts on the raised beds and the impact of the community garden.

Learn more about the benefits of raised beds and the impact of community gardens in the video!