From the Ground Up: Rebuilding Academy Sherman Park
From the Ground Up: Rebuilding Academy Sherman Park
When a tornado tore through North City, St. Louis, it destroyed more than a garden; it struck the heart of a community. Thanks to the resilience of neighbors and support from Seed St. Louis Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and St. Louis Composting, Academy Sherman Park is growing again. Together, we are planting the seeds of food access, education, and healing across our region.
At the corner of Cates and Clarendon sits Academy Sherman Park, a beautiful community garden that has always been more than just a place to grow food. It is where neighbors, artists, students, and photographers come to find inspiration, reflect, and build connections.
What began as a small effort to reclaim access to healthy, homegrown food has blossomed into something extraordinary. Over the past 20 years, the garden has expanded from six beds to twenty-five. Each has its own story. Big Momma’s House overflows with collard and turnip greens. Chicks and Salsa bursts with beans, tomatoes, and peppers. The calming Tea Time Bed grows herbs for brewing tea for friends and neighbors alike.
Each January, seeds sprout on sunny window sills across the neighborhood. By May, the garden hums with life. Children chase each other between rows. Families fill baskets and wagons with produce. Neighbors swap stories and recipes. As the gardeners say, “Your health is your wealth.” Grandkids love picking fresh vegetables and waving to Sherri Bailey, the heart of the garden and lead gardener.
A Day That Changed Everything
The start of 2025 felt like any other year. On May 16, Sherri Bailey, Seed St. Louis, and CBC volunteers were busy clearing beds for spring planting. “It was like another day in Mayberry,” Sherri recalls, smiling at Ms. Tony and her 94-year-old mother waving from their balcony that overlooks the garden, excited to plant their seedlings at 4 p.m.
But by 4 p.m., everything had changed.
A tornado tore through the Academy Sherman Park neighborhood. In moments, the garden was unrecognizable. Roofs were scattered across beds, trees were uprooted, and the orchard was destroyed. The community stood in disbelief. What had once been a joyful, thriving space had become ground zero.
Even in the face of devastation, the garden became something new. It became a refuge.
Neighbors gathered to share food, distribute tarps, and stack plywood. The open space turned into a hub for care and connection. “The land was in shambles,” Sherri said. “But it was open, roomy enough for tables and tents. This was our safe space.”
Planting Seeds for the Future
Now, hope is taking root once again. With the continued support of Seed St. Louis, a longtime partner of the garden, and an emergency relief investment from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Academy Sherman Park is being restored and revitalized. Prior to November 6th, with a grant from Tito’s, multiple downed trees were removed. Soil, provided by St. Louis Composting, was also brought in to even out the land in low areas.
On November 6th, community members came together with Seed St. Louis and Tito’s to:
- Plant new trees to regrow the orchard
- Rebuild raised garden beds and fill them with fresh soil
- Add picnic tables and benches to welcome neighbors back
- Install a composting station and educational sign to promote sustainability and learning
Today, Sherri is all smiles. There is movement, laughter, and a renewed sense of purpose. The neighborhood is coming alive again. Everyone is asking about the garden and is eager to help it flourish once more.
Academy Sherman Park stands as a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together, supported by partners who believe in growth, healing, and connection.
Help More Gardens Grow
Every day, Seed St. Louis is planting the seeds of our region’s future. Teachers are transforming lessons into hands-on science through garden-based learning. Children are discovering the magic of planting a seed and watching it grow into food. Neighbors are turning vacant lots into vibrant gardens that feed families and strengthen entire blocks. Gardeners are accessing free educational classes that expand their knowledge and help gardens thrive year after year.
The challenges facing our region are real. But so is our collective power to transform them.
Your support makes this work possible.
- $50 supplies a budding classroom garden with seeds and soil to thrive.
- $100 equips a new gardener with the tools to get started.
- $250 provides free, hands-on learning for students at a school garden.
Together, we can ensure every community has the resources and opportunity to grow a more resilient, healthy, and connected future. Even the smallest gift has a big impact.
🌱 Gifts made before December 31 will be doubled, thanks to a generous matching donation of up to $25,000 from the Berges Family Foundation.
Your gift today will go twice as far to help more gardens grow and help every community in St. Louis flourish.