Gamma Garden Members of Gamma Sigma Phi take charge in restoring the on-campus garden. Harding University men’s social club Gamma Sigma Phi (GSP) hosted a service project tending to its on-campus garden to maintain the growth they had cultivated. “My freshman year [2021], Gamma queen Meg Sledge recruited me to the SGA physical resource committee after joining the club,” senior Ryan Kieswetter said. “My involvement was the planning for it, picking the space and then showing up for the construction of it.” By fall 2022, acting Student Government Association (SGA) President Sledge brought the garden to life along with other members of the SGA. Made up of primarily GSP members, the Garden Committee managed the garden throughout the next few year. However, by the 2024–25 school year, the on-campus garden needed an update to stay fruitful. “During club week, members of Gamma were told to water the garden like new members,” garden committee head sophmore Emma Gaskill said. “I thought that was really funny and unexpected, so I did not want to miss out on this goofy cross-section of Harding.” Gaskill noticed that the men of GSP were actively involved with the garden and took the opportunity to renovate the community space. She reached out to GSP service director, junior Jake Hale to see if they would be willing to make some major changes to the garden. “We cleaned up the area in the garden, picked up weeds and limbs and repaired raised beds from rotting wood,” Hale said. “It was cool to see a bunch of guys show up and do that like it was nothing.” Hale continued to talk about how club members truly devoted themselves to the project. They removed a massive wooden table, installed watering systems and ultimately made the garden functional again. “If anything needs to be done to the garden again, ask us and we will be there,” Hale said. GSP members believed that building the community around them was just as important as the community they built within their club. They expressed their desire to continue to help with the garden and their hope for it to become a shared space for students and community members to enjoy. Written by Adele Duncan A BLOOMING LEGACY Thriving with fresh growth, the on campus garden grows across from Searcy Hall. The garden was originally created in 2022 by the Student Government Association. Photo courtesy of Emma Gaskill 60 Social Clubs
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