Blazer Kitchen Garden

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Blazer Kitchen Garden has evolved from a small 2020 initiative into a thriving center for community nourishment, education, and sustainable urban agriculture. Originally founded by Winston Lancaster, Ph.D., to provide organic produce for Blazer Kitchen—UAB’s on‑campus food pantry—the garden now flourishes under the leadership of Amanda Clark, Ph.D.

The garden currently produces 20 to 30 pounds of fresh vegetables each week from 10 raised beds, each planted using a square‑foot approach to maximize efficiency. Clark envisions doubling production through intensive gardening methods, including vertical structures for vining crops like tomatoes and squash and the addition of hoop houses to extend growing seasons. A future greenhouse could increase yields even further.

Beyond food production, the garden is becoming a “living classroom.” Clark, a former TL1 Scholar with UAB’s KUH PRIME initiative, aims to transform the space into an educational and research hub that supports interdisciplinary collaboration. With dedicated volunteers and strategic planning, the garden not only helps address food insecurity but also cultivates hands‑on learning experiences that connect the campus and broader Birmingham community.

$20 = one hand tool
$50 = plants and seedlings for one bed for the year
$100 = nutrient rich soil for one bed for one year
$200 = everything needed for one bed for one year
$400 = organic fertilizer for the entire garden for one year

For a full list of UAB Giving Days projects, click here.