Love of the Garden Is at the Root of ACIPCO-Finley Neighbor Larrie Coleman’s Heart

ACIPCO-Finley neighbor Larrie Coleman’s love for gardening began with her mother. As a child, her mother always had a beautiful garden filled with all the vegetables she loved – heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, collard greens and more.

“I have always had a home garden because of how much my mother loved hers,” Larrie said. “I believe the love of the garden is at the root of your heart.” It was this love of gardening that motivated Larrie to begin volunteering at the ACIPCO-Finley Community Garden and ultimately become a master gardener through the Jefferson County Master Gardeners Association, Inc. in November 2025.

“It was ACIPCO-Finley Neighborhood President Catherine Evans who first encouraged me to volunteer in the garden about three years ago,” Larrie said. “From there, I started working with Bunny [Fite] and Angie [Amin-Patel] and other master gardeners and enjoyed working with them and learning. To have Bunny and Angie help us in the garden is a blessing.”

Larrie, a resident of the ACIPCO-Finley neighborhood for 43 years, said people in the community know they can come to the garden to get fresh produce. “They don’t have to go to the store,” she said. “If they need a tomato or an onion, they can get from the garden. We can pay it forward with something we’ve grown. It means a lot to know you can grow something and give to others.”

In early 2025, Larrie made the decision to become a master gardener after encouragement from Bunny, Angie, ACIPCO-Finley neighbor Gary Laister and others. “I didn’t think I had the time to commit to it, but eventually decided to try,” she said. “I enjoyed meeting people from across the area who also enjoyed gardening.”

To complete her master gardener certification, Larrie attended classes every Thursday for six months and worked in different gardens across Jefferson County. “We learned about soil, pollinators, when to plant certain vegetables and flowers, when to trim trees and shrubs and much more,” Larrie said. “We were required to complete 50 hours of work in neighborhood gardens, but I completed more than 100 hours.

“It’s good for someone in the neighborhood to be a master gardener, and I’m thankful to ACIPCO for sponsoring my classes. It means a lot to all of us to have a place we can call our own.”