Newport First United Methodist Cultivates More Than a Garden
What began as a small patch of land and a simple idea has grown into something much larger for Newport First United Methodist Church.
Under the leadership of Rev. Kelly Giese, the church launched a community garden project, which is feeding neighbors, building partnerships and creating unexpected connections across the community. Rev. Giese said the idea took root through a grant opportunity and a desire to meet a specific need.
“We were talking with the Jackson County Senior Center about what fresh foods they would most enjoy,” Rev. Giese said. “They were unanimous on purple hull peas.”
With funding secured, the next challenge was finding a place to plant. That opportunity came through Jamie Darling, owner of Darling Pharmacy and Darling’s Fine Things, who offered land behind the pharmacy for the project. Darling, a member of Tuckerman United Methodist Church, said the decision felt natural.
“I think anything you do that’s positive for the community just makes people feel better about everything,” Darling said.
The lot, roughly half a city block, quickly became the foundation for what would grow into a collaborative effort involving the church, local students, community organizations and volunteers. Rev. Giese intentionally started small, knowing the biggest challenge would not be planting but maintaining the garden.
“You need help, and you have to be out there,” Rev. Giese said. “So, we looked at it as an opportunity to make friends and invite people in.”
That invitation was answered in many ways. Students from Newport High School’s agriculture program helped plant the initial crop, and a newly formed school garden club has since become involved. Cooperative Extension agents provided guidance on nutrition, planting and food preparation, helping ensure the harvest could be fully used by those receiving it.
The project also partnered with the Newport Community Garden Initiative, expanding both its reach and resources. One of the most meaningful partnerships, Rev. Giese said, has been with women from the Arkansas Department of Corrections facility, who assist with maintaining the garden. Their contributions have been vital to the project’s success.
“This project could not have been possible without them,” Rev. Giese said.
To express their gratitude, the church hosted a dinner last year for the women, offering not only a meal but a chance to see the direct impact of their work.
The harvest itself has been shared with the community, particularly through the Jackson County Senior Center. While certain regulations prevented the peas from being incorporated into meal programs, they were distributed directly to individuals, along with instructions on how to prepare and preserve them.
The choice of purple hull peas was intentional, both for their nutritional value and their familiarity to many in the region. But the garden’s impact goes beyond food. Darling said projects like this help restore something many communities have lost.
“People need community. They need to come together,” she said.
That sense of connection is evident not only among volunteers but across generations. The project has introduced younger participants to gardening, a skill that was once commonplace but is now less familiar.
“I think people don’t realize how valuable that is,” Darling said.
Rev. Giese agrees, noting that the garden has become as much about relationships as it is about food.
“It’s about being invitational,” Rev. Giese said. “Saying this is for everybody and we would love for you to be part of it.”
Looking ahead, the garden is expected to expand beyond its initial crop, with plans to grow additional vegetables and continue strengthening partnerships throughout Newport. For Rev. Giese, the lesson is simple. What started as a modest effort to grow food has become a living example of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
“It’s really about the partnerships,” she said.
And in Newport, those partnerships are continuing to bear fruit.