Written by Watkins Kelly // Graphic by Cooper Turman

In the spring of 2022, the Student Association (SA) announced a community garden project. Now, months later, the garden is providing for both students and members of the Searcy community.

The garden consists of three large beds and holds sweet potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and a variety of peppers. The vegetables can be picked by anyone, whether they are affiliated with Harding or not. As well as providing food to students and community members, the SA also regularly donates vegetables to Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission.

The garden is primarily tended by members of the SA Garden Committee. Sophomore Parker McNeal, a committee member, said the work was very rewarding.

“We’re constantly looking after the garden,” McNeal said. “We are proud of the work we’re doing and the ways we are helping feed the community.”

The committee members each have a designated day of the week to water the garden and are consistently monitoring the progress of the vegetables. Junior Ella Duryea said students besides committee members were also encouraged to lend a hand and should take advantage of the garden themselves.

“If students want to contribute, they are welcome to come and help us water and weed the beds,” Duryea said. “But we also want students to feel comfortable picking what they need and benefiting from the garden.”

Duryea, the junior female SA representative, is in charge of the committee and works directly with the Harding Physical Resources Department to care for the garden. Duryea said exciting plans for the garden are in the works, including more beds, a composting system and updates to the space surrounding the garden.

“We’re working toward making it a place people want to come and spend time,” Duryea said. “Our hope is that the garden can be a place of respite, and an opportunity to get away from our lives of busyness.”

Senior Meg Sledge, president of the SA, originally proposed the idea of the community garden and worked to make the vision a reality.

“Our vision was to create a space of solitude, a place for people to go and have inspired conversation,” Sledge said. “We wanted to show people the importance of having to grow and maintain something. It’s exciting to see that vision be realized.”