UALR Department of Health Sciences was awarded a grant earlier this year that allowed them to literally plant some seeds in the University District. Thirty households in Broadmoor, Fair Park, Oak Forest, and College Terrace were chosen to receive raised bed gardens, complete with tools and plants, and an initial training session to get them started.

The idea behind the “Growing Healthy Communities” grant is two-fold. The actual process of growing your own food means better nutrition and physical exercise. The secondary benefit is economic. After all, produce at the grocery store is more expensive and can be a reason why folks choose packaged foods over fresh foods.

Beth Phelps from the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension conducted the training to an eager group of hopeful green thumbs.

After the mandatory training, volunteers came out to each of the homes and installed the garden frame. A few days later, a pile of compost was delivered along with our first group of starter vegetable plants. Then the real work began in an attempt to keep these plants alive!

Honestly, with the record-breaking heat wave, I personally haven’t harvested much fruit at all. And that’s really OK. For me, this wasn’t a means to an end, but acceptance of a gardening learning curve and a stronger link to my own community. The outcome brought neighbors closer together — some even talked about joining their respective neighborhood associations as a result. So, in the end, you could argue that solidifying a network of residents is a fundamental element to a healthy community.

Janea Snyder, one of the project coordinators and an instructor in the Department of Health Sciences, was more than satisfied with the results. “Being able to provide residents with their very own raised bed garden was a joy to be a part of. The residents’ feedback to me has truly made my heart smile. I hope we can soon expand the effort.”

If you were one of the thirty households chosen, we’d love to hear from you. You can post a comment below, or send photos to saerwin@ualr.edu. If we have enough interest, we’ll create a Facebook page to share ideas and produce!