BALTIMORE (WJZ)– If you were in Reservoir Hill Thursday you saw a lot of people working very hard. Residents and volunteers are creating a farm and community garden.

Ron Matz explains what’s blooming in one of Baltimore’s most historic neighborhoods.

There’s a garden growing in Reservoir Hill. What started with nine people on a vacant lot a year ago, has blossomed into the Whitelock Community Farm with more than two dozen vegetables. 

“The Whitelock Community Farm is a neighborhood volunteer-based initiative to beautify our community, Reservoir Hill,” said Ashe Smith from Whitelock Community Farm. “We started off with just corn. From there it’s just exploded. We have over 27 different vegetables. We’re now getting our first berry bushes. It’s the city’s first-ever five-year lease that they’ve given to anybody and it was free.”

The garden allows people from all over the community to gather.

Georgia Winder, president of the Druid Hill Community Association, has lived in the area more than 50 years and comments on how much Reservoir Hill is changing.

“It used to be down and ugly. Now it’s beautiful and every time you look they’re doing something new. There’s tree planting and flowers. They have little children and seniors working in the garden,” Winder said. “We have a magnificent garden. The green team has made a great improvement for the neighborhood. They sell vegetables. It’s a farm.”

The garden has not only transformed the vacant lot but it has changed the neighborhood.

“This has always been a family neighborhood. You always knew your neighbors and it’s getting like that again,” Winder said. “We have a great mixed neighborhood and we have a brand new park around the corner for the children to play in.”

Fifty volunteers from the Home Depot are helping in the transformation of the garden.

“Home Depot is a values-based company. One of our core values is giving back to the community,” said Doug Jordan, manager of the Home Depot in Randallstown. “We have about 50 volunteers out here today. They’re passionate about our company and giving back. It’s very important to us”.

“We’re having a big block party on Sunday, Oct. 16,” said Smith. “This was all vacant, there was never a meeting place for the past 20 years. I think this has allowed people to get to know one another again.”

People can buy produce at the Whitelock Community Farm on Fridays and Saturdays.