It is not uncommon in smaller communities for neighbors to help one another out, but for one Sharp County resident, he and his wife and the owner of the property on which they reside have taken this mission to new heights.
Along the Spring River, if you know where to look, you will spot a large garden in a not so usual place, the Bee Run RV Park.
Corey and Amie Grady are two tenants who reside at the park and took up the cause to create a garden which would later be used to help fight food insecurity for their neighbors.
“I saw someone with a garden here last year and they didn’t do too good so I asked Bob [Zeiger] if I could have it because that tenant was no longer here. He said it was a lot of work and I said I know,” Corey said. “I started and Bob passed away shortly after. I wish he was here. He is here seeing it. It’s been a blessing.”
Property owner Debi Zeiger said the garden is a kind way to honor her husband’s memory and that she fully supports the efforts of the Gradys, referring to the garden as a blessing.
“[When I was asked] I said yes. He wanted to put in a vegetable garden and you would not believe how beautiful it’s done. God’s behind this all the way and all the people these vegetables have helped,” Zeiger said.
Not only do the Gradys gift fresh produce to their neighbors, but Zeiger said when she’s not running her own cleaning business, Amie helps tend the garden and also cans some of the vegetables which come from the garden.
“His wife cans quart after quart. I’ve given her three dozen jars and she’s used them all and they’ve bought more themselves to can with,” Zeiger said.
Looking at the thriving garden plots, one would never know the Gradys are amateurs, with Corey noting the success has been trial and error.
“Early on, we had a problem with frost. Bob told me not to plant too early, but everyone gets anxious, and you get cabin fever. The frost got several of my cucumbers and beans, but I replanted,” Corey said. The way things are in this world, with prices going up, if you can, you might want to start figuring out how to get it done. I know a head of broccoli is like $5 a head. You can’t blame the grocery stores or the truckers they’re just trying to stay afloat.”
When asked if he would be willing to share what he has learned with others through his gardening adventures, Corey said he welcomed anyone who was interested.
“I would love to teach people. I am still in a learning phase myself. There are things I wished I’d done differently when I put this in. It was like I threw it together but tried to plan too. People say I plant too thick, and I probably do,” Corey said. “If anyone would like to come help, or come learn, they’re welcome to. I plan to do this again next year also.”
Zeiger said she and her late husband Bob opened the park, which is named after the creek nearby in 2000 with hopes to provide a family-oriented place for families to live and gather.
She noted the garden, has been a positive addition to the park and helps facilitate the feel which she and her late husband wished to maintain when planning the park.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
