Every time Sellus Wilder returns to the community garden he started last month, something is a little different. A new row of flowers has been planted. The bamboo fence is a couple more posts complete.
A few more plots of soil have been used.
The changes are signs that Wilder's project is a hit, providing a positive outlet for green thumbs in the South Frankfort area.
"We don't even know who has planted a lot of the stuff," Wilder, a local filmmaker and candidate for city commissioner, said. "Once we got it going, things just started popping up."
With the city's permission, Wilder broke ground on the garden, located just north of the intersection between Second Street and Logan Street, in early May. On Memorial Day Weekend, a cookout was held with food donated from local establishments to open the gardening season. The garden sits on city property and is open to the general public.
"Anyone is welcome to plant," Wilder said. He estimates that 30 to 40 people currently contribute.
Today, the garden doesn't look like much, but in a few months it should be teeming with tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, radishes and more, ready for the picking.
Wilder, a self-described "food geek," said the community garden addresses many of the concerns he and his wife, Jessie Bessinger, have about the world.
"We think a lot about how to make the world a better place," Wilder said. "Some of the things we are concerned about are energy consumption, food costs and the environment. The community garden seemed like an effective way to address those concerns."
Bessinger said the garden provides an area for those who lack sufficient space in their private yards. She said the goal behind the garden is to "bring in people from different walks of life to one place."
Wilder said the garden can also be an education tool to teach people how to grow their own food.
John Rodgers, a student research assistant at Kentucky State University studying organic agriculture, said the neat thing about the community garden is the way the project has developed.
"It's been really organic," Rodgers said. "It all has evolved on its own."
Rodgers said the average food in the grocery store has 1,000 miles behind it before making it on the shelves. He started his own private plot in the community garden partially because of the rising cost of food and fuel.
"If anybody looks at food costs and fuel costs, now is the time to start these kinds of gardens," Rodgers said.
Wilder and Bessinger first thought of starting a community garden last summer after seeing the neighborhood response when they tilled up the front yard of their home on Murray Street and began planting "everything they could think of." Squash, beans, corn, zucchini, okra. If it started as a seed it was probably in their garden.
"All of the neighborhood kids were really interested," Bessinger said. "Every day out there working, we had kids stop by."
Wilder said the kids not only asked questions about the garden, but actively participated in its maintenance.
"They wanted to know what it is, they wanted to weed it, they wanted to pick vegetables," Wilder said. "They definitely sparked the idea [for the community garden]."
With the community garden now a reality, Wilder has been sure to keep the dozen or so kids involved, having them do creative projects to add to the garden. They've painted a sign, made birdfeeders out of gourds and constructed scarecrows.
Wilder said nearby First Baptist Church and the Kings Center have been very supportive of the project.
He hopes that the community's involvement will deter people from misusing or abusing the garden.
"A lot of people have contributed to the community garden," Wilder said. "With both kids and the local church involved, we're hoping that will be enough for people to respect it."
"We don't mind people showing up and taking food, but we hope people that do will want to get involved."
The community garden is divided into two sections: a community section and a private section. The community section is open to anyone, while 16 individual 10 feet by 12 feet plots comprise the private section. Nearly all have been taken, but Wilder said he has considered expanding the garden to make room for more plots. Plots can be rented for $10 a year.