Arkadelphia center to host ceremony for new garden
ARKADELPHIA — A quadriplegic client at the Arkadelphia Human Development Center is reaping the benefits of his very own raised garden.
“He’s been ecstatic, having his own little garden that he can see and work,” said Deb Wilson, volunteer program coordinator for the center.
She said a couple of weeks ago, staff members harvested some squash from the raised garden.
“Then one of our employees took the squash, cut it up, breaded it and fried it for him to eat,” Wilson said. “He got to eat his very own squash from his own garden.
“It gives them a sense of ownership and accomplishment and pride.”
The raised garden was built, in addition to a community garden, thanks to a recent grant from AmeriCorps, a nonprofit organization that helps engage adults in public-service work.
A press release from the Arkadelphia Human Development Center states, “The Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Development Disabilities Services recently received a grant from AmeriCorps to design, build and harvest community gardens at each of the Human Development Centers.”
“It allows for a group to come and establish a community garden in all five of the HDCs here in Arkansas,” Wilson said.
The centers serve clients that are 18 and older and have intellectual disabilities.
She said Arkadelphia is the last stop, as gardens in Jonesboro and Conway have already been established.
“They didn’t have a garden of any type, so they broke ground, tilled, planted and got everything established,” Wilson said. “I believe Conway had a couple of gardens, so they may have put in a couple more.”
Wilson, who has worked at the HDC for 12 years, said because Arkadelphia was the last one and most of the growing season is just about over, the maintenance department went ahead and tilled the ground and planted the seeds.
“When AmeriCorps arrived, they built tomato cages and fortified the fences to keep the deer out,” Wilson said. “They also harvested at least one harvest of squash, and they have been doing other things on campus for us.”
Wilson said the volunteers helped erect a greenhouse as well.
“We actually had one already that had been used in the past,” she said. “But they got the rib structure up. We’ve got to wait till spending opens for the state to get some bisque fabric and things to finish it.”
The gardens are a joint project with Heifer International, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, which includes 4-H Clubs and Master Gardeners.
“AmeriCorps has been here since June 12, and they will go back to Colorado on Friday,” Wilson said.
The HDC will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, beginning at 10 a.m. Wilson said the mayors of Caddo Valley and Arkadelphia are expected to attend, as well as representatives from the other centers in Arkansas.
“We will grill hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken,” Wilson said. “There will be a little award ceremony as well.”
The purpose of the gardens is to allow clients at the HDC to have jobs and work in the gardens, Wilson said.
“To have the potential to earn money to do some of the things they want to do,” Wilson said.
She said some of the clients currently work for the Clark County Recycling Cooperative, which was established in 2008.
“We wrote a couple of grants to get the equipment, and we cater to small and medium-size businesses in Arkadelphia,” Wilson said. “We recycle cardboard, paper and plastics. …
“We also have individuals who work in Parks and Tourism. We have a contract with Arkansas State Parks to fill several of their info packets, which includes the general info