A community garden in Sheldon Park is thriving once again thanks to two women with green thumbs and big hearts.

Whitney Washington, a resident of the public housing complex in Harrison, resurrected the decades-old plot three years ago after it fell into disrepair.

Now, providing food for residents is among her top priorities, along with showing neighborhood children how fun it can be to get their hands dirty.

“Food insecurity is running rampant here and everywhere,” said Washington, who moved from Philadelphia to the Alle-Kiski Valley about eight years ago.

“God put a calling in my life to help the kids in my community. I take about 20 kids every day to hit the garden for an hour or two, and they love it.”

Washington connected with Harrison resident Jennifer Greenwood, a consultant for the Highlands Partnership Network, and they have worked to grow the garden’s impact.

Greenwood originally was hired to spearhead a similar initiative along Burtner Road near the Citizens Hose fire hall, but those plans are stalled.

In the meantime, she is pouring her efforts into other Harrison gardens such as the one in Sheldon Park and another in the Natrona section of the township.

“We got together and saw there was a need,” Greenwood said.

With Greenwood’s help, two loads of soil were delivered to Sheldon Park. The garden sits in the area behind Planet Fitness in the Heights Plaza Shopping Center.

“We got the weed whackers out and trimmed all the grass, and it’s looking good,” she said.

She provided each of the children there with a take-home project that included a three-gallon recyclable planting bag and marigold seeds.

“While we are on hold in Harrison, we want to find a path to connect these other gardens and make this area a communal village,” she said.

Her aim is to create bike paths that travel from Harrison to Natrona to Tarentum, where people could stop at the kayak launch or one of the parks or restaurants along the way.

“We want to find a way to keep the community gardens afloat while we look for options to tie these things together,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood welcomed volunteers to work in the gardens or donate supplies.

Already, the work in Sheldon Park is reaping rewards, Washington said. There are 14 garden beds producing free tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and more.

“My favorite thing is watching the kids get excited and understand where food comes from,” Washington said.

“I had one little boy who helped put in the flower bed, and he knocked on my door so excited one day when the sunflowers bloomed.”

The Sheldon Park garden was established in the 1980s by late resident Lloyd Hayden. Washington said he oversaw the garden and enlisted community members to help until his death in 2009.

She is honored to take over the tradition and credited resident Anita Minnis for being influential in the garden’s revival.

“Without her, the garden would not have gotten its new breath of life,” Washington said.

Minnis handles the paperwork and grant proposals, and, was responsible for securing a shed and initial gardening supplies.

They make a good team, with Washington taking on the physical duties.

“I get up at 6 every morning to water the plants, and I sing to them,” she said. “I want everyone to know that we’re investing in our future here. I want the kids to know they’re loved and supported, and we won’t let you go hungry.”

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