Roane State President Dr. Chris Whaley and college horticulturalist Nancy Humphreys work in the college’s community garden near the main campus in Harriman.
March 29, 2019
By Bob Fowler
Roane State staff writer
Ask Nancy Humphreys, blessed with a green thumb, how her Roane State Community Garden grows, and she doesn’t hesitate to reply: pretty doggone well, thank you.
Humphreys, whose title is Horticulture Tech III, had the brainstorm five years ago to plant a community garden to benefit area charities and those in need. “I saw a need in all counties served by Roane State, especially Roane County, for ‘surplus’ food,” she said.
Helping with the startup were Shelia Hicks, secretary for the physical plant on the Roane County campus, and former Roane State employee Mare Thomas.
College President Chris Whaley liked the idea of growing a garden, and the plot behind the girls’ softball field across Patton Lane was cleaned up. It has always yielded a bounty. Originally an acre, it’s been scaled back to a quarter-acre because, Humphreys said, “helpers drop off when it’s hot.”
Humphreys is now sowing a variety of vegetables in the college’s greenhouse to transplant into the garden, which will again have eight to nine raised beds. “Anybody in the community that wants to put a plot over there is welcome,” she added.
Among the upcoming crop: tomatoes – of course – along with early-season vegetables like peas, onions and collards. Then, there are the usual suspects in East Tennessee gardens - corn, cucumbers, squash, zucchini and peppers, “lots of peppers.”
The plot “really grows okra like you wouldn’t believe,” says Humphreys.
Peppers and lettuce have already been sown in the greenhouse, located behind the Dunbar Building on the Roane County campus. Humphreys said she’ll be sowing okra in April.
A bushel full of okra went last season to elderly congregants at a local church, “and they were thrilled,” Humphreys said.
The garden also provides Tennessee Promise students an opportunity to complete their required community service hours.
Students interested in signing up for that work are asked to contact Hicks at (865) 882-4565 or hickss@roanestate.edu. Five or six helpers would be great, Humphreys said.
More information about the Roane State Community Garden is available at www.facebook.com/RSCCcommunitygarden.
Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities. View full non-discrimination policy.
