Growing Together

In this episode, we break down the key decisions and discussions from the June 30th Birmingham City Council meeting. Then, enjoy a thoughtful conversation with Councilor Crystal Smitherman and guest Jacqueline Jackson as they dive into the District 6 Farmer’s Market and highlight the importance of urban farming. Plus, we’ll share updates on upcoming events and other important information you won’t want to miss.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_02 0:04

Welcome to Motion to Adjourn, the podcast about the work that continues with the Birmingham City Council beyond what happens on Tuesdays during council meeting.

SPEAKER_00 0:13

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

SPEAKER_02 0:15

Or in the committee meeting. After the official motion to adjourn, the council's continue work on behalf of the city and its residents. Welcome to the motion to adjourn podcast. I am your host, Anaya Kenyon. I serve as project manager for the Birmingham City Council. Today, we are diving into some of the most significant items that were mentioned during Tuesday's council meeting. On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved the FY 2027 operating budget, totaling $615 million. This year's budget places a strong focus on infrastructure, neighborhood revitalization, and cradle to career support for Birmingham residents. To strengthen local neighborhoods, the budget dedicates $19 million to revitalization initiatives, including $12 million for street resurfacing, $3 million for weed abatement, $1.5 million for demolition and blight removal, $1.53 million for critical home repairs, $500,000 for traffic calming, $300,000 for recycling, and $200,000 for the facade improvement program. The budget also invests heavily in cradle to career programs with funding that includes $2 million for the Birmingham Promise, $1 million for mental health support in Birmingham City Schools, $1 million for financial literacy curriculum, and $1 million for the common ground conflict resolution programming. Additionally, services supporting unhoused residents and community violence intervention programs each receive a $1.5 million increase, bringing both to $3 million in total funding. Let's hear from Counselor Clinton Woods, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee.

SPEAKER_05 2:21

Our budget, FR27 budget passed today, $615 million. And so as always, we're always looking to how do we best meet the needs across our entire city, from current employees to past employees to the pension uh to our public safety infrastructure and kind of growing our educational footprint. So excited to be able to pass that today, uh get that done, but there's still a lot of work to do in the way we execute and expend those funds. But excited to complete this process for FY27 and uh honestly begin to start thinking about FY28 now as we're executing this defense budget. So we've continued to focus on what residents have asked for, uh infrastructure, public safety, uh educational and those things lead to population growth and more economic development. And so those are three Q core areas that we've continued to focus on. So when we look at public safety, um, we have to look at that twofold. We look at what PPD is doing uh through their increased uh you know uh police force as well as technology and the impact that they're having in solving crimes, but uh there's a bigger picture, so we have to look to make sure that we're investing in uh the entire ecosystem, and so violence and eruption, how do we prevent crime from happening in the first place? And that investment was was needed, and so we're gonna continue to grow that footprint. Ideally, we get to a place where um our crime rate lowering continues. We've had a very good 24 months and of decreasing crime, decreasing violent crime specifically, and we want to continue that, but uh we don't want to be solely in a reactionary place. We want to be able to be as proactive as possible, and that's what these dollars do. They allow us to empower uh more people on the ground that are not simply responding to crime but are getting ahead of things and preventing things from happening in the first place.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

To review the full FY2027 budget, visit Birminghamal.gov slash budget2027. Again, that's BirminghamAl.gov slash budget2027. The council approved a resolution authorizing the administration to apply for an underrepresented communities program grant from the U.S. National Park Service. If awarded, the city will use the funding to hire a historic preservation consultant to survey the Fountain Heights community and prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for its historic properties. No local match is required. During the civil rights movement, Fountain Heights emerged as a critical site for change, often cited by researchers as the front line of Birmingham's desegregation. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the community was reshaped by the construction of I-65 and I-59, which enclosed the neighborhood on three sides. Today it remains one of Birmingham's oldest and most historic communities dating back to its founding in 1882. The council has approved a one-year interlocal agreement that brings the city of Birmingham together with the surrounding municipalities to establish a multidisciplinary response team dedicated to child abuse cases. Participating city and county partners include Jefferson County, Bessemer, Brighton, Fairfield, Hoover, Hueytown, Lipscomb, Midfield, and Pleasant Grove. Under this agreement, the MDT will investigate child abuse, neglect, and situations in which children have witnessed violence. The partnership is designed to ensure that every case is approached through a coordinated trauma-informed process, strengthening collaboration across all involved jurisdictions. The Clay House Children Advocacy Center will serve as the team's documentation hub, tracking cases, compiling detailed summaries, and preparing materials for review to support the MDT's coordinated response. Don't leave just yet. We'll be right back after this quick message.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

If you want to know what's really happening in Birmingham, this is your spot.

SPEAKER_04 7:42

So this idea was birthed in 2022 to bring fresh local produce directly to D6 residents and to the city of Birmingham and strengthen neighborhood connections. The last market, which uh marked the return of the market, which was June 13th, but we also have two more markets, which will occur on the second Saturday in July and August. Um, and right here we have one of my favorite vendors, uh Maddie's Garden. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_03 8:12

I am well. How are you today? So good. Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_04 8:24

By the way, absolutely talk about, you know, from participating in the first year of the farmers market in 2022 to now in our what fourth or fifth season in 2026?

SPEAKER_03 8:32

Sure. Well, um, participating the first year, I did not know what to expect. I knew that it was a new newer market, and um, but I love the initiative. So that's what grabbed me, you know, bringing local produce to the community, that's that initiative alone grabbed me. So I had to sign up. And once I got there and everyone was just, you know, so pleasant, so welcoming, and just everyone's just very excited. It was a vibe there that day. And I just really just got into it. And once the community started coming out, and everyone was very excited and you know, excited to be there and asking questions about you know what we have. It I mean, it was just easy. It was just easy to do. So I just felt like like right at home, really.

SPEAKER_04 9:23

Love Matt. I'm sorry, yeah, I didn't even allow you to introduce yourself. So who is the face behind Maddie's Garden?

SPEAKER_03 9:29

Well, my name is Jacqueline Jackson, urban farmer from Maddie's Garden. Um, Maddie's Garden is the urban farm here in Birmingham. Um, we have been um operating since 2018. Uh we grow fruits, herbs, vegetables. Um, we're very much known for our microgreens. Um, we also now raise chickens for eggs. Yes. That's new from the last time. Yes. Oh, love that. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 9:57

I really do. And I've had some of your microgreens, and they have been absolutely amazing.

SPEAKER_03 10:03

Nice. Um, what are the benefits of microgreens before we go to the next question? Sure. Well, microgreens, most people hear about sprouts. Sprouts is literally what it is, it's a sprout. But microgreens is actually that next stage up as far as how it grows. And it's a great way to actually um introduce like greens to your diet where most people may like to eat a little bit more meat, which is fine. You can still have your meats. But what I love the most about microgreens is very nutrient dense. So, for example, instead of um eating a full head of broccoli, I offer what is called broccoli microgreens. So it's a it's literally a microgreen, and it's a more denser um nutrient approach to the same broccoli. So it's a little bit more kind of a fun way to add greens to your diet.

SPEAKER_04 10:54

Awesome. So with something like this, I love all farmers' market, farmers markets. Um, it's more kind of the concept from farm to table, right? Yes. So residents get to enjoy fresh produce, free vouchers, cooking demonstrations, and more. And you guys are able to literally take your babies from the ground and give them to people directly instead of going through a a mill man. So, how do programs like this and markets like this help to support both farmers and the community?

SPEAKER_03 11:22

Absolutely. Well, the biggest thing is by our community members supporting us, it keeps us farmers going as well, um, even in an encouraging type of way. Um, I like to see our community members come out and they're even asking questions like the last market um last month. Um, I had uh, well, I'm sorry, this month. This is still June, sorry, um, just two weeks ago, uh, I brought patty pan um squash. Most people have not heard or recognize patty pan. It's it looks like a completely different squash that you see at the grocery store. And so almost everyone asks, what type of what is that? What type of squash? So I had an opportunity to educate our community members on what type of squash this is and uh what's the benefits, how to cook it. And so um just having that engagement was I mean, it was it was monumental.

SPEAKER_04 12:22

So I love that. And you know, I think people they really want to learn and they really want to be able to know what is exactly going into the mouths, into their bodies, and so that's amazing. So as an urban farmer, talk about some of the challenges that you have producing your own produce.

SPEAKER_03 12:39

Well, I would say one thing that I think most farmers um that's challenging is um something we can't control sometimes, which is like weather. Um, that's something that um when it comes to growing food, um, there's little prediction as far as um, I guess you could say, um the timing of you know, different vegetables and crops. Um I would say that would be the most challenge as far as um being an herbal farmer sometime, whether it's something that you cannot necessarily predict.

SPEAKER_04 13:14

So I can I I imagine. Because I think it was one season, uh maybe it was the drought that caused, for example, the watermelon, which people love watermelon, um, instead of it being ready, you know, sooner, like June, they were like, oh, now it'd be like past almost the 4th of July, which is, you know, you never think about also just with like the pollution and the dumping and you know, climate change, how that literally affects everything, like it's our breathing, like you said, our food. So I think it's really just a full circle of life that everything that we do has some type of consequence. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 13:50

So all right.

SPEAKER_04 13:51

Well, uh, how has being a vendor at the market impacted your business or visibility as an urban farmer? I know you talked about now you have more interaction with residents, but what other type of impact has that had on your business?

SPEAKER_03 14:03

Well, um, you guys do a great job with social media. So just um plugging in um myself as Maddie's Garden and other vendors, just giving also um everyone's individual audience be able to say, oh wow, I didn't know that vendor was there and this is what they have to offer. And it's just kind of like you said, that circle there. Um once that person's informed, they're more encouraged to come out and see, you know, what you have to offer and just even meet, just meet you and and just kind of get to know who's um the face behind their food. I love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 14:41

Um, so looking ahead, what can guests look forward to from you in your booth or you being a vendor for the rest of the season?

SPEAKER_03 14:51

Well, for July, I'm very excited about our garden salads. That was a huge hit last year at D6, and we're looking forward to having those garden salads. So, in my garden salads, um, it's literally a garden salad. Everything that's in it is from my garden. So, usually it's either a lettuce or spinach base. Um, and I always include like my cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, um, and microgreens. And it's all in one pretty much just bundle there. And so it gives um it gives our community members an opportunity to eat completely fresh. Um, I always say all you need is a fork at this point.

SPEAKER_04 15:32

I love that, especially because usually you get a little hungry when you show around the different vendors and farmers, and also gives them a little preview to what they can buy from your booth. So I think that's really amazing, especially in microgreens, because I hadn't heard of that myself until I started, you know, going around to different farmers' markets, and they're really good. They have a little bite to it, but it's not bad. So I look forward to your salads. What about August? What can we look forward to in August?

SPEAKER_03 15:56

August. Um, we are probably gonna be wrapping up those summer veggies, so it's almost like that last opportunity to enjoy those summer veggies, and we're gonna slowly start moving into the fall.

SPEAKER_04 16:08

Awesome. Well, I look forward to July and August from um your booths and everyone else. I think this is such an amazing just initiative, and just the support has grown every year. And you know, we have our giveaways like July barbecue and watermelon, more flowers. Nice. I think August is like free ice cream, and even more we're gonna have Pilates, so really just a wow uh wellness perspective on the farmers market, just really expanding on the thing. So I think it's so and you know, we had a cooking demonstration as well. So I think this is great for helping to promote healthy habits, sustainability, and pride in local architecture. Um, it really goes back to really what our ancestors had because you know they farmed and the farm to table concept I talk about. And so when you eat healthier, you feel better, you can move better. Um, and also it can cool you down a little bit from eating watermelon, for example, fruits and vegetables, uh, and not something so heavy during the summertime.

SPEAKER_03 17:05

Very refreshing.

SPEAKER_04 17:06

So, Jacqueline, thank you so much for sharing your story and for being a part of this year's farmers market and past markets. Your work as an urban farmer brings so much value to our district and to the families who rely on fresh, accessible produce. To our listeners, don't forget to join us for the next farmers market on Saturday, July 11th, and August 8th at 1 30 p.m. On July 11th, we'll be at Memorial Park, and August 8th we'll be at the Grove, which is in Tiddysville. Come out, meet our vendors, enjoy live demos, enjoy the free giveaways, our free vouchers, and support our local farmers and architecture right here in Birmingham. So thanks for tuning in to Motion to Adjourn, and we'll see you at the market.

SPEAKER_00 17:51

Birmingham's got stories worth hearing. Straight from the people making impact. Motion to adjourn brings you real conversations with local leaders, community partners, and residents building a better city every day. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Stay informed, stay engaged, but most importantly, stay Birmingham.

SPEAKER_02 18:21

Here are some updates and upcoming events that you should know about. Save the date for Block and Bloom. District 8 and the flourish Alabama invites you to a vibrant summer celebration at the Block and Bloom Safe Summer Concert Series. Enjoy an afternoon filled with live music, local artists, food, workshops, and community fun, all in the heart of ENSLY. Join us Saturday, July 18th, starting at 2 o'clock PM at 19th Street ENSLY. This free family and pet-friendly event is a day of art, culture, and unity. Come experience the beauty of community in full bloom. Join us at the District 6 Summer Farmers Market. Counselor Crystal Smithman invites you to a fun-filled afternoon on Saturday, July 11th at Memorial Park beginning at 1 30 p.m. Come enjoy free watermelon, free barbecue, and free flowers while shopping fresh local goods and connecting with your community. Bring your family, bring your friends. Don't miss this feel-good summer event in District 6. Don't forget, our motion to adjourn mailbag is open, but we need it filled with your questions. Mailbag is your chance to connect directly with your city. Got a question, suggestion, or concern? We want to hear from you. Send us an email at Bham AL City Council at gmail.com and let your voice be part of the conversation here on the Motion to Adjourn podcast. Remember, together we're building a stronger community. One idea at a time.