Last year, outside her office at 815 E. Center St. in Sheridan, Debbie Harp began planting vegetables she could harvest and give away inside the office. The Grant County Hometown Health Coalition, of which Harp is a member, had a goal to create a community garden, and she stepped in to take the reins.
“I just did it in the flower beds up front, and you’d be amazed. The tomato plants grew to my shoulders,” Harp said. “I had a few watermelons come up and a bunch of jalapeno peppers.”
The garden was also born from surveys conducted by the Grant County branch of the Pine Bluff Jefferson County Economic Opportunities Commission that indicated community members would like to have a community garden.
Harp’s goals to give back to the community and teach people healthy habits have fused in Sheridan, where Harp is the Grant County coordinator for the Pine Bluff Jefferson County Economic Opportunities Commission. The commission focuses on providing services and funding to families in need, particularly families with small children.
Harp’s work in the garden did not go unnoticed, as the office’s neighbor is the local feed store, Feed 4 Less. The feed store’s manager, Deidra Burnette, and one of her fellow co-workers, Jasper Ellis, noticed Harp toiling outside in the garden and decided to pitch in by providing plants. Ernie Brewer donated his backyard to the garden project. Harp said Brewer enjoys gardening and flowers but is not as active as he once was.
“Last year, Jasper Ellis and I, we were out there between [Feed 4 Less’s] property and [Harp’s office],” Burnette said. “We had some corn growing, and we had some ornamental gourds and some luffa gourds growing, and [Harp] said, “I’m wantin’ to do vegetables; let’s give back to the community.’ So she set up an area of her office for people to take what they wanted or needed. From one idea that she had from us having the corn out there, it just spread like wildfire.”
This year, the Arkansas Master Gardener Program will help with the garden. This was arranged by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Another new facet is a farmers market that will be open to local growers, as well as community-garden plot-holders. The market is in the planning stages but is set to open sometime this year.
Harp grew up traveling across Arkansas. Her father, coach John Flaherty, was head coach for various Arkansas high schools during his long and storied career. She said she attributes her life’s trajectory to the tutelage of her father. From her degree in physical education and health to her career in public service, Harp has learned what she wants out of life from watching her father.
“It came natural,” Harp said. “It was easy to go to college for something you’ve been around all of your life.”
And now Harp has found another way to promote health and help those in need. Home-school children can use the garden for science and community-service credits, which adds an educational element to her endeavor. Harp said her father’s commitment to social service has really carried over into her life. She’s proud of that.